NBA Trade Rumors: Kevin Love Wants to Play With NY Knicks or LA Lakers in 2015

Minnesota Timberwolves power forward Kevin Love is not expected to become an unrestricted free-agent until the summer of 2015, but the news about his upcoming free-agency has generated tremendous buzz lately. On Monday, a report from a reliable league source revealed Love's preference to sign either with the New York Knicks or the Los Angeles Lakers.

According to veteran Chicago Bulls columnist Sam Smith, Love will opt out in the final year of his contract with the Timberwolves and sign a max deal either with the Knicks or the Lakers in 2015.

"Love, in the top four this season in scoring and rebounding, is said to be favoring the Lakers or the Knicks in free agency in 2015 when both will have money for perhaps two free agents," Smith wrote his latest article via Fan Sided.

Last week, CBS Sports NBA insider Ken Berger reported about Love's intention to abandon Minnesota and return back home to Los Angeles to play with the Lakers in 2015, as told by one Eastern Conference front office executive.

"They should trade him," one Eastern Conference executive said via CBS Sports. "No one thinks he's staying. Everyone knows he wants to go to the Lakers."

The Lakers, on the other hand, are apparently also determined to land the services of the All-Star power forward via free agency. With Pau Gasol and a handful of one- year contracts going off the books at the end of the season, the Lakers will have enough room in salary cap to accommodate the signing of one max player.

However, Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak stressed that they may wait until 2015 to use their salary cap space. This is a very obvious hint that the Lakers also want to get an efficient player like Love two seasons from now.

Like the Lakers, the Knicks are also expected to have room in their salary cap in 2015. Whether or not Carmelo Anthony decides to stay in New York this summer, the Knicks will surely push hard to get another franchise-changing player like Love.

Love is currently averaging 25.5 points and 13.1 rebounds while shooting .458 percent from the field and .844 from the free-throw line for the T-Wolves.