Hall of Famer Alonzo Mourning believes Kevin Love will eventually bolt out of the Cleveland Cavaliers and sign with the Los Angeles Lakers via free agency either this summer or in 2016.
Mourning said in an interview with Slam Online that Love is indeed unhappy in Cleveland as the All-Star power forward continues to struggle to adjust to his new role after being traded to the Cavaliers in the offseason.
From being the primary offensive weapon during his first six seasons in the league with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Love is being utilized as their option for the Cavaliers behind superstars LeBron James and Kyrie Irving, which has been creating speculation that Love is not happy with his role.
Mourning agrees with those speculations and he is quite convinced Love will leave James and the Cavaliers when he becomes a free agent. The 26-year-old could become an unrestricted free agent this summer, but there is a growing belief that he will likely play in the final year of his deal next season and wait for the salary cap to increase in 2016.
When asked where he thinks Love will end up after his stint in Cleveland, Mourning mentioned Los Angeles. "I think he's probably going to go to LA. I could see that," Mourning said.
While he did not specifically mention the Lakers, it is quite understandable he was referring to the purple-and-gold squad, who has been long linked to the former UCLA standout.
After averaging 26.1 points on 45.7 percent shooting from the field to go along with 12.5 rebounds and 4.4 assists with the Timberwolves last season, Love's numbers are down significantly this season.
In 65 games with the Cavaliers, the fifth overall pick in the 2008 draft averaged 16.7 points on 43.0 percent shooting from the field to go along with 10.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists. He is also taking just 12.9 shots a game this season compared to 18.5 last year in Minnesota.
Love admitted that he is having a hard time fitting into his new role in Cleveland, but the three-time All-Star, who has yet to experience playoff basketball in the league, said that winning games this season is making it easier for him to accept his responsibility with the Cavaliers, who are currently second in the Eastern Conference at 44-26.
"Everything is easier when you're winning," Love said. "So you can have some really good games, and then some tough times. The rotation might be different, but as long as you're winning, it kind of makes up for everything. And that's the kind of way it's been here."
