The Los Angeles Lakers shook things up this offseason following their opening-round loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2024 NBA playoffs.
The addition of Deandre Ayton will shore up the issues the Purple and Gold faced at center following the trade that sent Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Luka Doncic. This was the team's top priority this summer, and they did a great job of addressing the need once Ayton became available.
There were several other moves made to bolster the depth behind Doncic, Ayton, LeBron James, and the rest of the starting five. With Jaxson Hayes returning to backup Ayton, a role he is much better suited for, and Marcus Smart, Jake LaRavia, and second-round pick Ado Thiero joining the franchise as newcomers, Rob Pelinka has done plenty of work on this roster.
Los Angeles has one open roster spot remaining, though, and a veteran big man with ties to LeBron is practically begging to end up in Los Angeles.
Lakers Must Add Kevin Love to Fill Team's Final 2025-26 Roster Spot
Kevin Love is a member of the Utah Jazz, for now, after being shipped to Salt Lake City by the Miami Heat as part of the multi-team trade that brought Norman Powell to South Beach from the L.A. Clippers. It would not be surprising to see Love bought out of his contract. A veteran of his stature should not be spending the final chapter of his NBA career on a team that is in the early stages of a rebuild.
That scenario playing out makes the comments from NBA insider Jake Fischer worth paying attention to, as he reports Love is focused on finding his way to either Los Angeles or New York.
"But even if you're Love, if you're giving up a guaranteed situation with veteran minimum salary, I don't think you're going to sign the check or sign the paperwork to give up guaranteed millions of dollars until you have your next situation lined up. So with Love, to my understanding, he really only wants to be in the big glamour markets," Fischer stated. "I do
think it would mostly be something along the lines of Kevin Love going to a New York, a Los Angeles type of situation. So, we'll see if that can materialize for him."
For decades, Lakers fans have heard about the allure of Southern California being something that will attract free agents. Here is an opportunity to prove that it still rings true in what would be a lay-up of a contract negotiation.
That possibility of Love becoming available should be something that Pelinka is tracking. The fact of the matter is that the 15th man on the roster is typically not going to be depended on heavily. What Love could offer from a leadership perspective as a mentor to the team's younger players, as well as his familiarity with being on a roster that features James, would pay dividends.
As Fischer noted, it makes no sense for Love to work on a buyout with Utah until he and his representation have his next destination all but lined up. Whether the Lakers still have an open roster spot at that point is what will truly determine what, if any, pursuit of Love they make.
Love has every reason to be patient with his situation. At the same time, the Lakers must do what is best for the franchise. If a better potential addition presents itself, Los Angeles should do what it takes to get a deal done. The only thing that matters to fans of the Purple and Gold is building a championship-level roster, no matter who is on it.