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Los Angeles Lakers 2015 Free Agency Primer

By Jackson Sanders

March 4, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12) controls the ball against the defense of Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan (6) during the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
March 4, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12) controls the ball against the defense of Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan (6) during the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 10, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0) rebounds in the second quarter against the Boston Celtics at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 10, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0) rebounds in the second quarter against the Boston Celtics at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /

Los Angeles Lakers Might Finally Sign Kevin Love — If He Breaks Up With LeBron James

Kevin Love and the Los Angeles Lakers have been linked since rumblings began that the forward wanted out of Minnesota. The Timberwolves finally agreed to trade him to the Cleveland Cavaliers last summer, but nothing can truly stop the #FutureLaker machine from stirring up the rumor mill.

Adding fuel to the raging fire of speculation, Love has formally opted out of his contract with Cleveland, leaving him free to sign with any team that he chooses. Reports are the team he will select is…the Cavaliers, according to Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com:

"Love may speak to other teams next week, but there is a growing belief across the league that he will back up statements made throughout the season and return to the Cavs. Several sources close to Love have indicated he is likely to stay in Cleveland."

There is still a level of intrigue for interested teams, because the Love-LeBron dynamic in Cleveland has been strange at best. Love seemed like an outsider all season, whether it neglecting to pick LeBron James as MVP in favor of Russell Westbrook or getting subtweeted by King James throughout the season.

More recently, it was reported that LeBron wouldn’t recruit Love back to Cleveland. Which, admittedly, could mean nothing at all.

If Kevin Love does decide to bolt to Los Angeles, he would be welcomed into a strange lineup situation. The Lakers are invested in power forward Julius Randle, but it’s unclear how the Love and Randle would be able to share the court outside of small-ball lineups.

Much like the LaMarcus Aldridge situation, the Lakers would embrace the “problem” of figuring out how to make the pieces work, especially if it means landing an elite talent like Kevin Love. But first, Love would need to turn down the opportunity to chase a title with LeBron James.

Don’t hold your breath.

Next: The Perils Of Restricted Free Agency

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