The Los Angeles Lakers are expected to “aggressively pursue” Miami Heat center, Hassan Whiteside in the upcoming free agency period
Now that the Lakers have locked up Brandon Ingram and Ivica Zubac with the second picks in the first and second round of the 2016 NBA Draft, attention now turns to who the team will sign in free agency.
Despite the pond being full of relatively big fish in the past three offseasons, the team has been unsuccessful in signing any of these players. But now, reloaded with a new coach, promising group of youngsters and a boatload of cash, the 2016 offseason appears to be one of the most exciting free agency periods in franchise history.
Though the biggest names out there are currently Cleveland Cavalier’s superstar, LeBron James and Oklahoma City Thunder forward, Kevin Durant, it seems like those pipe dreams sadly remain just that.
With that in mind, the Lakers look to be turning their attention to more reachable aspirations, recently reported to be interested in the likes of Atlanta Hawks’ center, Al Horford and now Miami Heat big man, Hassan Whiteside.
Story posting now with @ramonashelburne: @espn sources say the Lakers plan to aggressively pursue Miami's Hassan Whiteside in free agency
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 25, 2016
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Earlier this season, fans were sold on the fact that Whiteside was the perfect fit alongside the Lakers’ young core and that still might remain the case.
Fitting the athletic, defensive minded, seven foot center into a starting lineup that will also feature D’Angelo Russell, Jordan Clarkson, Brandon Ingram and Julius Randle and you are presented with switch heavy defensive juggernaut, if coach Luke Walton can get them to buy in on that end.
According to ESPN, Whiteside is also being pursued by the Dallas Mavericks and the Portland Trailblazers though many more suitors are expected to arise. Whiteside’s contract with the Lakers would be worth just around $20 million a year, which would leave that more than $40 million to play with elsewhere.
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The risk versus reward factor with Whiteside is always the issue, especially when you consider that he’s admitted to padding his stats, but he could be a piece to help attract other free agents this summer.