The Los Angeles Lakers are off to a dismal start this season, but the proud franchise could get a marquee player in the offseason - Kevin Love of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Sam Smith, a trusted NBA insider from Bulls.com, reported that Love, who is averaging 18.7 points and 10.2 rebounds this season, could opt out of the final year of his deal with the Cavaliers next summer to become a free agent.
Once Love hits free agency in the offseason, several teams are expected to pursue the 26-year-old power forward, and the Lakers will have a strong chance to acquire the former UCLA standout because he is from California and is a self-confessed Lakers fan before he entered the league.
"Watch out for Love," Smith wrote. "Indications are he will seriously consider the opt out and has his eyes on a return to Los Angeles, where he attended college and where the Lakers long have had him on their free agent wish list."
But according to Sporting News, Love might opt out of his deal with the Cavaliers, but Lakers fans should take the report with a grain of salt because the seven-year veteran might not be interested in moving to Los Angeles at all.
Love wanted out of Minnesota Timberwolves last season because he felt that he had no chance to win a title in Minneapolis after failing to make the playoffs in his first six seasons in the league. Moving to the Lakers will put him in a similar situation, considering the fact that the Lakers still rely heavily on 36-year-old superstar Kobe Bryant.
The Cavaliers are also in a good position to retain Love even if he decides to become a free agent next summer, being the only team who can offer a maximum five-year contract to the three-time NBA All-Star.
Staying in Cleveland will also give the Santa Monica, California native the best chance of winning a title in the next several seasons, especially if LeBron James decides to finish his career in Cleveland.
James could also become a free agent after the current season, but the 29-year-old superstar made it no secret that he will sign a new deal with the Cavaliers either next summer or in 2016 when they salary cap increases significantly because of the league's new TV deal with ESPN and TNT.
