Los Angeles Lakers: 3 players the Lakers better hope get bought out

Nov 2, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers head coach Frank Vogel watches game action against the Houston Rockets during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 2, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers head coach Frank Vogel watches game action against the Houston Rockets during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers

1. Kevin Love

We have talked about Kevin Love here on Lake Show Life before and the potential fit that he would be on the Los Angeles Lakers. There is obviously a connection to the Lakers in LeBron James and while it does not seem like a fit with Anthony Davis, it could be a great fit that unlocks things for LA.

It has become clear (if it wasn’t already) that the Lakers are at their best when Anthony Davis is playing the five. However, Davis is non-committal to playing center full-time, forcing the Lakers to go out and get the likes of Dwight Howard and DeAndre Jordan.

Neither Howard nor Jordan have been all that great this year and the less that the team can play them when the games matter the better. Love would help accomplish that. The Lakers could play a frontcourt of Davis and Love without sacrificing any real floor spacing as both Davis and Love can stretch the floor.

You can label either player as the center and it does not really matter. Both guys are interchangeable as a four or a five but since Love can stretch the floor it allows Davis to operate near the rim when necessary.

Love has one more year on his contract after this season but a two-year buyout is not impossible, just look at Blake Griffin. Love is coming off the bench and only playing 20 minutes per game for Cleveland. It makes more sense for them to save some money as no team is going to trade for that contract.