NBA Players Assoc. We Must Learn from Lamar ... Improve Drug Abuse Policies

The head of the NBA Players Association tells TMZ Sports ... "Lamar Odom's tragedy should not be replicated" ... and she's already drawing up plans to try and save players from a similar fate.

We spoke with executive director Michele A. Roberts ... who told us the NBAPA already reached out to Odom's friends and family to see if they could help out -- from flying family members to Vegas to assistance in medical counseling.

"Lamar was a member of our family. Anything we can do for him we will do for him."

But Roberts says the NBAPA should do MORE in the future to help NBA players who suffer from addiction.

Roberts says she's already drawn up a battle plan to make it so a player who has a problem can seek help without fear they will lose their jobs.