Lakers Get Good News on 5-Time All-Star Buyout Candidate

Former five-time All-Star Kevin Love reportedly wants to join the Los Angeles Lakers or Los Angeles Clippers, spelling good news for a Lakers team that has been urged to reunite Love with his former teammate, LeBron James.

According to ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel, Love prefers joining the Lakers or Clippers once he secures a buyout from the Utah Jazz.

“Word around the league surrounding Love is that he wants to end up in Los Angeles, sources said,” Siegel wrote on August 5.

“There were some rumors that Love would want to go to New York, although there doesn’t seem to be much interest brewing from the Knicks.”

The insider noted that the hard-capped Lakers would need to waive a player to offer Love the veteran-minimum deal. They had to similarly waive guards Jordan Goodwin and Shake Milton to sign Marcus Smart in July.

Lakers Could Use A Stretch Big

“Both the Clippers and Lakers still have one open roster spot,” wrote Siegel.

“But if the Lakers were to pursue Love and reunite him with LeBron, they would need to move off another contract since they are hard-capped at the first apron and just $1.1 million from this mark. When looking at the Clippers, they are basically in the same situation, as they are $1.2 million from their first apron hard cap.”

While Maxi Kleber, a longtime teammate of Luka Doncic, could thrive in the role of a floor-spacing big man off the bench, Love would be a marked upgrade. Love, a career 37% shooter from three, has made 1.8 threes per game in his 17 years in the league. Furthermore, he knows what it’s like to play on a team with LeBron James.

According to NBA insider Marc Stein, Love is “actively exploring” ways to get out of the Jazz, a team that is widely expected to tank the 2025-26 season for a high lottery pick. Love landed in Utah this offseason as part of a three-team deal that saw the Clippers acquire John Collins and the Heat land veteran scorer Norman Powell.

Kevin Love Actively Seeking Buyout

Siegel noted that it’s “hard to envision” a team trying to trade for Love’s expiring $4.1M contract, making him an ideal buyout candidate for all parties involved. The insider also floated the possibility of Love reuniting with the Minnesota Timberwolves, the team that drafted him fifth overall in 2008.  

“Perhaps a reunion with the Minnesota Timberwolves should be discussed,” he wrote. “The Timberwolves have an open roster spot to fill, and they recently lost Luka Garza in free agency.

“Given his experience and championship DNA, Love would be a great voice for the Wolves to add in their locker room, especially with younger frontcourt pieces like Joan Beringer, Rocco Zikarsky, and Leonard Miller not necessarily ready to contribute right away.”

The Nuggets and Warriors are the only two teams with open roster spots that will allow Love the opportunity to compete for a championship. However, neither team has reportedly expressed interest in landing him this offseason.

“There has not been any reported interest between Love and these two teams, as these are just potential options for the veteran to possibly explore as he looks to depart the Jazz.”