Lebron James ‘likely’ To Return To Lakers, Kevin Love Could Join Him

As free agency nears, it’s become evident that the most likely outcome for LeBron James is that he continues his career as a Laker.

Recent reports have indicated that he isn’t willing to take a pay cut to return to the Cavaliers, and while the Warriors have reportedly expressed interest, it’s still widely believed James will return to LA.

During Wednesday’s episode of ESPN’s “NBA Today,” longtime NBA journalist Marc J. Spears stated that not only does he believe LeBron will return to Los Angeles, but Kevin Love could be joining him.

While the kind of numbers LeBron could be receiving on his new deal is still unknown, it’s no surprise that he is likely to return. He’s been with the franchise for eight seasons, has won a title in LA, his son is on the team and he is still playing at a high level, averaging 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game.

With Luka Dončić now the franchise player, LeBron can continue helping the Lakers transition into this new era while remaining on a team with title aspirations. The partnership between the Lakers and LeBron remains beneficial for both parties.

Now, what is surprising is hearing that Love could be joining the Lakers.

Love has been connected to the Lakers before, with reports indicating LA wanted to sign him back in 2015, but that never happened. Instead, Love signed a long-term deal with the Cavaliers and went on to win a title with LeBron in 2016.

Clearly, the bond between James and LeBron remains strong, and it is likely one of the reasons he would want to join the purple and gold next season.

At his age, Love is no longer putting up numbers anywhere near his career averages. He averaged just 6.7 points and 5.8 rebounds for the tanking Jazz this past season.

However, he would come in to be a veteran and an end-of-the-bench big man who can provide leadership to this team. Considering that Love has 16 years of NBA experience, he could help teach young players how to be pros and serve as one of the team’s vocal leaders.

A lot can change between now and when free agency begins, but bringing back LeBron would be a big win for LA, and Love coming on as a veteran would be a nice addition as well.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.