The Los Angeles Lakers were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs after the Minnesota Timberwolves exploited all of their biggest weaknesses.

For the entire game, the Lakers did not play with a traditional center on the floor. Jaxon Hayes, who started in each of L.A.'s first four playoff games against the Wolves, didn't see a single second of playing time in Game 5.

As soon as the final buzzer sounded on the Los Angeles Lakers's season Wednesday night, the clock started an annual rite of spring: rampant speculation and intrigue about the future of one LeBron James.