The Los Angeles Lakers may have had a good trade window that saw them acquire players who fit right alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis, but a couple of seasoned buyout candidates would further solidify their case for prime playoff favorites.
The addition of Rui Hachimura, D’Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley, Jared Vanderbilt, and Mo Bamba has added more teeth to the side’s struggling offense and erratic defense, but by adding the likes of veterans Kevin Love and John Wall, LA could perhaps benefit from the skillsets they bring to the team, even if it means coming off the bench to make an impact.
Love and the Cleveland Cavaliers are already finalizing a buyout, and while the Miami Heat and the Golden State Warriors have been looked at as potential suitors, there’s every chance that the Lakers could toss their hat in the ring and make a beeline for the forward/center.
On the other hand, Wall, who signed with the LA Clippers in the offseason, was shipped to the Houston Rockets in a deal that saw them acquire Eric Gordon in the process. The guard has already been linked to the Lakers, and it might not be a bad move if the front office plans on adding him to the roster.
Kevin Love And John Wall Will Be Smart Additons For The Los Angeles Lakers
Love has played with James before, and a potential reunion would serve well for both parties. The Lakers could use someone to hold the fort in the non-AD minutes, and while Love isn’t the force he once was, his rebounding and passing accuracy could make life easy for the shooters in the squad.
The 15-year-veteran is averaging 8.5 points, and 6.8 rebounds this season. Further adding to the argument is SB Nation’s Rick O’Donnell, who believes the James-Love chemistry augurs well for the Purple and Gold.
“The LeBron connection makes the Lakers an obvious fit. James and Love have maintained a close relationship since winning the 2016 championship together, and it would make sense if LeBron pushed to get the team to sign his friend. The Lakers don’t take or make many threes, which is an area where Love could help. LA has also been a poor offensive rebounding team all year, and Love still has some ability in that area, too.”
Moving to Wall, the numbers are out there, and they’re more than just promising. The former Clipper is averaging 18.4 points and 8.5 assists this season — better than the numbers of the point guards presently in the outfit (the sample size can exclude Russell as he’s played less than five games for LA).
Wall’s production this season and his immense experience might just be the reason why Rob Pelinka may consider adding him to the ranks. His ability to play defense, finish around the rim and his playmaking skills can be a seamless fit with James and Davis. And note that he still boasts of the athleticism he had when he took the floor for the Clippers.
Pelinka had earlier shed light on the possibility of the team adding one more player, and while he did say that they would look out for suitable names, he didn’t necessarily guarantee a move.
But there’s no denying that Love and Wall bring their own skills that could just boost the Lakers’ wobbly and under-pressure campaign.
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