Could Kevin Love be the next former NBA All-Star to reunite with LeBron James and join the star-studded 2021-22 Los Angeles Lakers?

On Friday, the Cleveland Cavaliers, Chicago Bulls, and Portland Trail Blazers executed a three-team trade that sent Lauri Markkanen to Cleveland, Larry Nance to Portland, and Derrick Jones Jr. to Chicago. The Cavs then inked the 24-year-old power forward to a four-year, $67 million contract.

Markkanen's arrival — following the Cavs' selection of stretch-4 Evan Mobley with the No. 3 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft — is the latest signal that Love's tenure in Cleveland could be coming to an end. The 32-year old appeared in 25 games in 2020-21 and didn't seem all that thrilled to be on the court with the young Cavs squad.

Depending on how the finances play out, a move to the contending veteran Lakers would seem to offer a more appealing basketball (and life) situation for Love, a Santa Monica native who made a run to the Final Four alongside Russell Westbrook at UCLA and won an NBA championship with James.

Love also won a gold medal at the 2012 Olympics in London with James, Westbrook, Carmelo Anthony, and Anthony Davis. (His attempt to make the 2020 team did not go well.)

The Lakers have three open roster spots. One possible returnee from the 2020-21 squad, Wesley Matthews, unfollowed the team on Instagram, for what it's worth. Jared Dudley — who was widely expected to be back — is headed to the Dallas Mavericks as an assistant coach, to the surprise of him and LeBron.

The Lakers want to fill two roster spots before the season and leave one open for a midseason buyout. Numerous former All-Stars have been linked as possibilities: Paul Millsap, Isaiah Thomas, LaMarcus Aldridge, Rajon Rondo, DeMarcus Cousins, and DeAndre Jordan.

J.J. Redick, Avery Bradley, James Ennis, JaKarr Sampson, and Lance Stephenson are among the other notable names caught up in the buzz.

Then there's Love, whose familiarity with the Lakers' stars and relationship to Los Angeles can't be overlooked.

The Cavs have already spoken to Love about a reduced role this season, perhaps as a small-ball backup center, a la Blake Griffin with the Brooklyn Nets. Maybe Love is willing to stick around, mentor Markkanen, Mobley, and Jarrett Allen — and recoup all his money.

Speaking of Griffin: The former No. 1 overall pick's move to Brooklyn offers a precedent for how Love could find his way to Los Angeles. Griffin had two years and $75 million-ish remaining on his deal with the Detroit Pistons. He agreed to forgo $13.3 million to be set free. Love has two years and almost $60 million remaining on his contract.

Cleveland might prefer to keep Love until the trade deadline in case the Cavs find a deal, but — as with unsuccessful Lakers buyout addition Andre Drummond in 2021 — it will be extremely difficult to find a team willing to match and take on that money. They surely know his current market is nonexistent.

Los Angeles made an effort to improve its 3-point shooting this summer (and may have sacrificed perimeter defense in the process). The Lakers solidified their frontcourt defense by adding Dwight Howard, but they don't have a stretch big on the roster outside of 36-year old Marc Gasol, who is not a lock to return. (Personally, I'm still surprised they let Markieff Morris go.)

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Love shot 36.5% on 6.2 3-point attempts per game in 2020-21.

As with Rondo, the Lakers entirely overhauled the roster (and the coaching staff), so any established familiarity will be beneficial as they sort everything out. Love's experience with James and Westbrook will come in handy in that sense.

Considering the resurgence Griffin has enjoyed in Brooklyn, a Love-Lakers pairing has the potential to flourish if the five-time All-Star is similarly energized by the change of scenery and being thrust into contention. The 2021-22 Lakers have already established a culture built on winning and sacrifice — not money or individual accolades — so Love would have to take the veteran minimum and buy into that.