The Los Angeles Lakers seem to be just about done shaping their roster for this upcoming season. They have just over $1 million of space under the first apron of the salary cap, which simply won’t be enough to sign another free agent.
There is always the chance they pull off a consolidation trade that frees up a couple more million dollars, but it doesn’t look as if any other team wants to take the expiring contracts of Gabe Vincent and Maxi Kleber off the Lakers’ hands.
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However, the team’s situation hasn’t prevented the rumor mill from producing an interesting rumor. Veteran big man Kevin Love was recently traded to the Utah Jazz, and the two sides are reportedly working on a buyout of his contract.
According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, if Love does get his contract bought out, he could be looking to play in either New York City or Los Angeles (h/t HoopsHype).
“So with Kevin Love, to my understanding, he really only wants to be in the big glamour markets. … I do think it would mostly be something along the lines of Kevin Love going to a New York or a Los Angeles type of situation. So, we’ll see if that can materialize for him.”
Love, who will turn 37 years of age in September, is clearly at the tail end of his career, and he averaged 5.3 points and 4.1 rebounds in 10.9 minutes a game for the Miami Heat this past season while continuing to be a dependable 3-point shooter.
At this point in his career, he plays a considerable number of his minutes at the 5 spot, and the Lakers could use a better backup center than Jaxson Hayes.
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Of course, Love played four seasons with LeBron James when both were members of the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the two helped lead the franchise to its first NBA championship in 2016. The friendship between the two seems to still be strong, as the two worked out together in New York City about a month ago.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Kevin Love could be eyeing a spot on the Lakers