Kevin Love is a marquee talent in the NBA right now. Not yet 26, Love scores and rebounds with the best of the league. A player of Love’s caliber only comes around every three to four years, so it is easy to see why so many teams are keeping their cap space available for the 2015 off-season.
Love has played six solid seasons in Minnesota, but despite all his All-Star numbers, has never experienced postseason play. Minnesota was expected to compete for a playoff spot this season, but with only ten games remaining, it seems unlikely they will make it yet again.
This lack of success, along with several other blunders from the Minnesota front office, has Love considering a move to a new team when his current contract runs out. While Los Angeles has been rumored as an ideal landing spot for the three-time All-Star, Love is apparently considering other ‘big city’ teams.
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According to Dave McMenamin of ESPN Los Angeles, Love is enamored with playing in a big city for a big team:
A source familiar with Love’s thinking told ESPNLosAngeles.com that it’s not just L.A. that is appealing to Love; he’s enamored with the idea of being “big time in a big city,” and that list of potential places he’d seek includes New York and Chicago, as well.
The Lakers have been considered the front runners to land Love for some time, but apparently they will face some stiff competition from other big name cities. Love recently tried to quell the rumors regarding him leaving for Los Angeles as he told reporters he is focused on the present and not 2015, when he can become a free agent. In an interview with GQ, Love has even said that the Timberwolves have a better foundation than the Lakers. However, with Love still a member of Minnesota, these comments should be expected.
Love is a special talent, a type of talent that only comes around so often. The Lakers have acknowledged this talent and are possibly trying to assemble a trade around their upcoming lottery pick to attain the services of the big man.
After striking out on their post-Kobe plan, Dwight Howard, the Lakers can certainly not afford to miss again. With Kobe Bryant reaching the twilight of his career, the Lakers must assemble a plan to carry on their storied franchise, and simply cannot let Love sign with another team if they have the ability to acquire him.
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