The Los Angeles Lakers ranked 14th in the Western Conference this season with a mediocre 27-55 record, Kobe Bryant is upset, and management is expect to re-staff, starting with the head coach Mike D'Antoni. There's really not a lot of positive things going on in Laker Nation currently.

However, there have been rumors that three-time NBA All-Star Kevin Love could be traded to the Lakers this offseason.

The Lakers have always historically loved their big men, such as trading for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, trading for Wilt Chamberlain, signing Shaquille O'Neal, and trading for seven-foot power forward Pau Gasol. Love may not be one of those elite players, but he is one of the best big men in today's NBA. He has also shown he can hit mid-range and perimeter shots, as well.

Love is currently signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves on a four-year contract that expires in 2016. Love is scheduled to make $15,719,062 next season, and the 2015-16 season holds a player's option which allows Love to opt out if he chooses.

The Lakers could use Love's rebounding and size on the court. Love has averaged at least 12 rebounds per game during the last five consecutive seasons and is only 25 years old. With an aging Pau Gasol, Love might be the perfect fit. Love is also no stranger to the area. He was born in California and played college ball at UCLA. Although Love has been a great player for the Timberwolves, his greatness has had no impact as the Timberwolves have never made the playoffs with Love.

With the Lakers having such a high pick in this year's draft and Minnesota never benefiting from Love's play, this could be a win-win situation for everybody.

Kobe Bryant has always been a player that has thrived when you give him a quality big man. He doesn't play the "Pippen" or "Robin" role very well; he wants the ball in his hands when it matters most. The Dwight Howard experiment didn't quite work out last year, but Howard was injured for much of the season and he didn't act serious much of the time, either.

With Bryant's career winding down, using a first round pick and building for the future may be a mistake. Trading for a star player and trying to win right now shows urgency. With Gasol set to be a free agent this offseason, trading for Love might be inevitable.

Related