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Lakers lose potential buyout target thanks to Donovan Mitchell trade

By Jason Reed

CLEVELAND, OHIO - DECEMBER 05: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz drives to the basket around Darius Garland #10 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the fourth quarter at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on December 05, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Jazz defeated the Cavaliers 109-108. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OHIO - DECEMBER 05: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz drives to the basket around Darius Garland #10 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the fourth quarter at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on December 05, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Jazz defeated the Cavaliers 109-108. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
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The Cleveland Cavaliers shocked the NBA world on Thursday by making a surprise trade for Donovan Mitchell with no prior speculation. This trade directly impacted the Los Angeles Lakers, as it removed the possibility to trade Russell Westbrook in a three-team deal with the New York Knicks and Utah Jazz.

While the Lakers still have trade options with the Jazz and potentially even the Knicks, it does make it harder to move Westbrook before the 2022-23 season begins.

The surprise Mitchell trade didn’t just ruin the Lakers’ chances of pulling off a three-team Westbrook trade, though. It also took away a potential buyout target that the team could have had at some point during the 2022-23 season.

There is now zero chance Kevin Love joins the Los Angeles Lakers this season.

Of course, a lot had to happen in Cleveland for Kevin Love to join the Lakers this season but Love was a perfect buyout candidate this season. Love is on an expiring contract that pays him $28.9 million and before the Mitchell trade, it seemed more likely than not that he would eventually be bought out.

Cleveland would have been a middling team with Love not really playing that big of a role off the bench. Wanting to give Evan Mobley more minutes down the stretch, it would have made sense to save some money on Love and do him the favor of letting him sign with a contender.

While there are several teams who are better contender candidates than the Lakers, LA still would have made sense for Love. He would not only be reuniting with LeBron James but would be coming back to LA to re-live some of his glory days with UCLA.

On paper Love makes sense as a depth option for LA as well. Los Angeles needs floor spacing, particularly in the front court, and Love would have provided that. Now, though, the team is going to have to look elsewhere at other potential buyout candidates.

Cleveland is obviously going to be a contending team that is going to look to keep all of its assets (if not add assets) this season. Barring it being a massive chemistry issue with Love demanding to be bought out (and Kevin Love is not that type of player), there is no real reason for Cleveland to even consider this.

Which is a shame, really, as Love was one of the more talented buyout candidates for the Lakers this season.

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