At 14-23 and eight-and-a-half games behind eighth seeded Dallas, there isn’t much to look forward to this season for the Los Angeles Lakers. The news got worse today as forwards Pau Gasol and Xavier Henry both missed practice as they prepare to play 10 of their next 13 games away from Staples Center.
In recent weeks, Gasol’s name has been dragged through countless trade rumors and decisions about whether or not the Lakers will engage in their rebuilding plan earlier than expected are being discussed. On that note, according to Sam Smith of Bulls.com, Timberwolves forward Kevin Love has his eyes on a bigger market in 2015:
Love, in the top four this season in scoring and rebounding, is said to be favoring the Lakers or the Knicks in free agency in 2015 when both will have money for perhaps two free agents
Love is arguably the premier power forward in the NBA right now and a report from last week suggested people around the NBA know that he’s looking to leave for LA when his contract expires. For as bad as the Lakers season has been, the Timberwolves have disappointed this season and the UCLA product vented his frustrations after a recent loss.
For the Knicks, forward Carmelo Anthony is set to become a free agent at the end of this season and his name has also been connected to the Lakers for most of the season. Regardless, Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak spoke to reporter Mike Trudell recently and said the team might be in a better position to offer a max deal in 2015.
With all the rumors that Love will bolt Minnesota after his contract expires, there are some suggesting Timberwolves president of basketball operations Flip Saunders trade the 25-year-old forward. While that scenario doesn’t seem likely, the Lakers will be a logical destination for Love if he becomes a free agent after the 2014-15 season.
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