The Los Angeles Lakers have had their eyes set on Kevin Love for a while now, and it looks like the feeling has been mutual as well with the Minnesota Timberwolves star power forward. With that said, it's no surprise that reports and rumors are now coming out with the 2014 NBA trade deadline approaching that the purple-and-gold are trying to make a deal for Love.
Los Angeles would essentially have to wait until 2015 to get Love, but if they want him now the only way possible is to trade for him. According to CBS Sports, the Lakers are trying to do just that.
The Lakers are trying to assemble trade offers for prospective free agent Kevin Love, but thus far the Timberwolves have given no indication they’ll consider moving the All-Star forward by Thursday’s deadline, league sources told CBSSports.com.
Any Lakers offer would have to include Pau Gasol, whose $19.3 million contract comes off the books this summer. Rival executives believe the Lakers’ best chance of moving Gasol is to a team that views him as worthy re-signing to a more reasonable deal this summer — not as a rental. The Lakers also can offer their 2014 first-round pick, which has value. With Kobe Bryant out indefinitely, the Lakers are tied for the fourth-worst record in the league.
Los Angeles may have some pieces that could entice the T-Wolves, but it may not be enough.
Pau Gasol may not be the guy that can get Minnesota into the playoff hunt, nor is he a person who could be apart of the team's future despite his relationship with point guard Ricky Rubio. The first-round pick definitely helps, but it doesn't seem like enough to give up their franchise star.
Either way, for some reason, I see Los Angeles ending up with Love in the future. It would either be now, or in 2015 when Love is a free agent.
