Lakers News: Top LA Buyout Market Target Signs With Eastern Conference Team

The Heat did not make a big splash at the trade deadline so they are expecting to improve their roster with Love.

After news broke that veteran power forward Kevin Love finalized a buyout with the Cleveland Cavaliers, many teams including the Los Angeles Lakers emerged as suitors. Other clubs that were rumored to be connected to Love were the Denver Nuggets and the Phoenix Suns.

Despite LA’s potential interest, the five-time All-Star signed with the Miami Heat this week. Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN tweeted the breaking news on Sunday. 

After clearing waivers, Kevin Love plans to sign with the Miami Heat, his agent Jeff Schwartz of @Excelbasketball tells ESPN. pic.twitter.com/c1Ff4tLfKP

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 19, 2023

Love was in the final year of his contract in Cleveland, earning $28.9 million. This season, the 34-year-old was averaging 8.5 points and 6.8 rebounds per game while shooting 35.4% from behind the arc.

The power forward hasn't played since January 24th but is hoping to get more opportunities with his new team. The Heat did not make a big splash at the trade deadline so they are hoping to benefit from Love who could play as backup behind the Heat's starting frontcourt of Caleb Martin and Bam Adebayo.

Although Love won a championship back in 2016 with the Cleveland Cavaliers, his chances of winning another title with his new team are slim. The Miami Heat currently sit in seventh place in the East. Granted, the Lakers are the 13th seed in the Western Conference at present, but the team has the depth to compete with anyone, and could handily catch up with, say, the West's fourth or fifth seed by playoff time.

Love’s move to Miami is a done deal, but one can only imagine how the veteran could have come to play in Los Angeles. The five-time All-Star is an LA boy at heart, as he was raised in Santa Monica, California, and went to college at the University of California Los Angeles.

Not to mention, Love could have reunited with his former teammate LeBron James. After all, James was the one who called Love himself to bring him to Cleveland in pursuit of a ring.

Although Love chases rings elsewhere, the Lakers do not have to dwell much on that missed opportunity. The team already took a big win at the trade deadline with their newest pieces, so will focus on optimizing their current roster as the regular season nears an end. 

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