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Los Angeles Lakers: Ranking rumored trade targets by impact

By Jason Reed

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 22: John Wall #2 and Bradley Beal #3 of the Washington Wizards talk on the floor in the first half against the Toronto Raptors during Game Four of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Capital One Arena on April 22, 2018 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 22: John Wall #2 and Bradley Beal #3 of the Washington Wizards talk on the floor in the first half against the Toronto Raptors during Game Four of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Capital One Arena on April 22, 2018 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

The Los Angeles Lakers are not done yet this offseason. With several rumored trade targets, things are just starting to heat up in Los Angeles.

The Los Angeles Lakers are up to something. Whether that means another superstar this summer or next, the front office is set up for something big.

Why else would the team be exclusively signing free agents to one-year contracts? Why else would LeBron James come to the Lakers to begin with? Sure, it may be a lifestyle choice, but LeBron simply wouldn’t come to LA if there was not at least some promise of a master plan.

This is only validated by the rumored trade targets that have been connected to the Lakers. John Wall, Bradley Beal, Kevin Love, DeMar DeRozan and Damian Lillard are all reported options for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Each of those trade candidates brings something unique and have their own fit on the Lakers. With that in mind, we decided to rank each rumored trade target by their potential impact on the team.

5. Kevin Love

Kevin Love is a fine player. He is a reserve level all-star that is the perfect second star to an NBA team. Love cannot carry a team by himself, however, he is the perfect piece to throw alongside a guy like LeBron James.

So perfect, in fact, that we have already seen this same song and dance on the Cleveland Cavaliers. Granted, the Lakers present a completely different outlook and roster alongside Love and LeBron but playing alongside LeBron has hindered Love’s performance.

Love is best suited as a stretch-four with a sharpshooting guard and decent center alongside him. That is why Love best played in Cleveland with Kyrie Irving and when Tristan Thompson was producing. When he was in the role as the primary big man, when he really should not be, he did not play up to his full potential.

A team like the Utah Jazz is the best fit for Kevin Love, not the Los Angeles Lakers. Los Angeles cannot be relying on Love to play center as he did in Cleveland and get a similar skill set in Kyle Kuzma.

Quite frankly, Love is not worth the pieces that the Lakers would likely have to give up.

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