Los Angeles Lakers: Homegrown stars who should end their careers in L.A.

Kevin Love, PF, Cleveland Cavaliers

Place of birth: Santa Monica

For years now, Kevin Love has been mentioned as a potential trade candidate for the Cavaliers. Despite his underrated presence as the No. 3 option (for some reason), his impact continuously and undeniably helps LeBron’s team compete for a championship.

Honestly, I’m sure the Lakers would love to have Love on their roster. They’d at least be able to appreciate what the four-time All-Star can bring to the table. He’s a tremendous rebounder, underappreciated option on offense and impacts the game in a number of ways with his hustle and tenacity.

Right now, Love may not seem like a great fit. The Lakers currently boast the talents of Julius Randle and Larry Nance Jr. at power forward, which is more than enough for the time being. However, when he hits the open market in 2020, Los Angeles’ situation at the 4 may not be so exciting. If that’s the case, you’d better believe they’d kick the tires on Love.

Every time Love’s name comes up in trade rumors, the Lakers enter the conversation. His talents would be much more appreciated in Los Angeles, and the local ties obvious help. If they really want to bring him back to California, though, waiting to sign him in 2020 may be best.

Especially as his career winds down, Love could become a cheaper option. If that ends up being the case, the Lakers could easily sign him and allow him to finish his career in his old stomping grounds.