The Los Angeles Lakers are expected to be very aggressive on the trade front and free agency market this offseason in hopes of quickly rebuilding the team into a title contender next season.
Lakers superstar guard Kobe Bryant is demanding big changes in the offseason, and reports indicated that the Lakers will make a strong push to acquire Minnesota Timberwolves forward this summer.
The Lakers currently hold the sixth-worst record in the league, which means that they would end up getting a high lottery pick in the 2014 NBA Draft.
But while acquiring a marquee player in the rookie draft is good for the Lakers' long-term future, reports indicated that the team's desire to become a title contender next season would force them to deal their pick.
ESPN's Marc Stein reported that the Lakers will include their high lottery pick in a trade package in hopes of convincing the Timberwolves to part ways with Love, who is expected to become a free agent after next season.
"The suggestion is already in circulation that the Lakers will attempt to use their forthcoming high lottery pick in June to assemble the sort of trade package that finally convinces the Wolves to part with Love and end the uncertainty that hangs over this franchise even before the 25-year-old enters the final year of his contract," Stein wrote.
Love has been very vocal about his disappointment after failing to reach the playoffs in his first six seasons in the league, and his growing disappointment could convince him to go into another direction.
Most NBA executives are convinced that Love will leave Minnesota in the summer of 2015, and could force a trade even before he hits free agency.
However, sources indicated that Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor has no plans to entertain trade offers for Love until the All-Star forward expresses his desire for a change of scenery.
"You continue to hear that Wolves owner Glen Taylor remains determined to try to convince Love to stick around and will keep resisting trade offers until, as one insider puts it, he has no choice," Stein wrote.
Taylor is still optimistic that Love's improving relationship with team president Flip Saunders would convince Love to stay, along with the fact that the Timberwolves can offer $30-million more than what other teams can offer.
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