LA Lakers Rumors: Kevin Love Priority with LaMarcus Aldridge, Paul Millsap Options for Kobe Bryant, Rajon Rondo Signed as Jordan Clarkson, Jeremy Lin Seek Return?

Apr 27, 2015 02:07 PM EDT
Kevin Love
Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love drives to the basket during a 2015 home game."

The Los Angeles  will have upwards of $30 million in salary cap space to work with as they hope to rebuild the team in free agency for what could potentially be Kobe Bryant's final year in the league. With the appeal of large-market Los Angeles and the legacy the Lakers hold, the team expects to be big winners this offseason and is prioritizing several big names to chase. Kevin Love sits at the top of the list.

According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports, if Love does not re-sign with the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Lakers are likely the winners of the forward in free agency. Love has the chance to opt out of the final year of his contract and hit the open market. Several teams are aware his tenure with Cleveland has been a rocky one and the Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly the team to beat if Love is on the market.

The Lakers' interest in Love is certainly nothing new. The forward is a west coast guy having played his college basketball at UCLA. Most have assumed that he will look to head back to that area at some point in his career. Wojnarowski reports that plenty of east coast teams like the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks stand a good chance at getting Love, but the Lakers are the team to beat since they have everything the forward would be looking for.

The Lakers are going to have to wait for their chance to speak to Love. The Cavaliers will get first crack at the forward and hope he has built a better connection with teammates in order to remain in Cleveland. Love is certainly not the only player the Lakers are favoring in free agency so if he does remain in Cleveland, Los Angeles certainly has other options. Many believe LaMarcus Aldridge will be a favorite if Love stays with the Cavaliers.

According to CBS Sports, Aldridge is no-committal on his future in Portland. It was previously reported that teammates believe there is a 50-50 chance the forward re-signs with the team as he is looking for a nice max contract in his next deal. ESPN's Chris Broussard is listing the Lakers as a favorite to land Aldridge as it could come down to him or Love in free agency.

Los Angeles has a very lofty wish list heading into free agency. The team has been linked to Rajon Rondo, Greg Monroe and Paul Millsap. They have also been linked to trade deals for Russell Westbrook and Brandon Jennings. The team is in need of a major bounce back year and everything is on the table as a result.

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