stinky, thnx for the reply, i've heard you know ur stuff.

my follow up to your advice would be How much of the roots should i try to salvage?
should i physically break up that giant lump under the main stalk?
this will be a lil bit brutal to do right, just go for it?

I may need to prop up in the new soil until the roots re-develop. i think the roots are all screwed up.

Rock.