NBA Trade Rumors: Lakers Will Exploit T-Wolves' Inability to Sign Kevin Love

Kevin Love is going to wind up a Laker. It is just a matter of when the Timberwolves decide to make this inevitably a reality. 

With the Lakers having lost out on point guard Chris Paul and the possibility that Dwight Howard will not be going anywhere this season becoming a likely reality, the Lakers will turn their attention to their next target, and that is Kevin Love. 

There were already strong indications that they have already begun showing their interest in the young and talented big man. Peter Vecsey of the New York Post reported that sources told him the Lakers offered Pau Gasol for Love after the Chris Paul trade fell through. 

While the Timberwolves were understandably reluctant to make this trade, they can be swayed. 

At the heart of the problem is the fact that they are not going to be able to lock Love up long term. His contract is up at the end of this season, and he has indicated he is not eager to sign an extension. 

Love, from an interview with 1500ESPN.com, when asked about signing long-term with Minnesota:  

"

I don't know. I don't know the answer to that at this point. It's all in my agent's (Jeff Schwartz) hands. People can speculate and say what they want, but I will just go out there, play basketball, and help this team win.

"

It is important to note that this situation is different than Howard's in Orlando. Love will be a restricted free agent at season's end. That means the T-wolves will be able to match any offer they receive for him. 

While this means that the Timberwolves don't run the risk of watching Love walk away at the end of this year, they have to know that their chances of locking up Love long-term rest somewhere between slim and none. 

This will make them open to the notion of trading a man that would otherwise be untradeable. It is time for the Lakers to be aggressive. They have already offered Gasol, but they can't stop there. Everyone on the roster not named Kobe Bryant or Andrew Bynum should be eligible. 

The Lakers can not only offer Gasol, but they also have the valuable trade exception acquired from the Lamar Odom deal. 

It is time to turn that exception into an asset and make the big splash the Lakers have been desperate for all season.