If LeBron James opts out of his contract following this season, the Lakers are expected to make a strong push to bring the four-time NBA MVP to Los Angeles.
Bleacher Report’s Kevin Ding is reporting that if James doesn’t hit free agency this summer, the Lakers won’t making any blockbuster moves this summer. Instead, they’ll save their cap space for the summer of 2015, when Timberwolves All-Star power forward Kevin Love could become a free agent if he chooses to opt out of the final year of his deal with the Wolves.
Everything goes out the window if LeBron James opts out of his Heat contract and is interested in the Lakers this summer, but otherwise the Lakers plan to piece a roster together again next season aroundKobe Bryant and save their cap space for 2015 free agents such as Kevin Love, LaMarcus Aldridge, Rajon Rondo, Marc Gasol and maybe James.
The Wolves could decide to trade Love if they don’t feel he’ll extend his contract to stay in Minnesota. The Lakers, Bill Simmons says, are a terrible trade partner for the Wolves because they don’t have a lot to offer for Love. Simmons believes the Boston Celtics are the best fit for any potential trade involving Love.
The Knicks and Wolves play tonight at Target Center. The “Love to New York” rumors have been ongoing for more than a year, and Knicks star Carmelo Anthony knew exactly where one reporter was going during a postgame interview on Tuesday when the reporter whipped out a photo of Anthony and Love side-by-side at an All-Star Game.
“Where are you going with this?,” Anthony asked with a chuckle, as reported by Newsday. Then he had nothing but praise for Love’s game.
“He’s a guy who, he became a stretch-4. He never was a stretch-4 before,” Anthony said, according to the New York Daily News. “He worked on his shot. He worked on his three-ball. He worked on stretching the floor, spreading floor out. He can also go inside. He’s one hell of a rebounder. He’s a big load.
“He’s a guy who got better every year since he’s been in the league and still he’s improving now.”
The question of where Love will continue to evolve in 2015 and beyond will without question remain a hot topic.
