This is not what the defending champions envisioned.
Even after the shortest offseason in NBA history and key injuries to LeBron James and Anthony Davis that deflated the team's regular-season record, the Los Angeles Lakers had expectations of a deep playoff run. Despite being the 7-seed, they were the betting favorites to emerge from the Western Conference and reach a second consecutive NBA Finals.
Instead, they're going home after a first-round defeat at the hands of the Phoenix Suns.
With James and Davis already locked up and likely looking to rebound next season, the attention for Rob Pelinka & Co. turns to retooling a roster that has multiple players headed to free agency this summer, including Dennis Schroder, Alex Caruso and Andre Drummond.