One of the assumed biggest targets of the Lakers, Hassan Whiteside, won’t meet with Los Angeles to start 2016 NBA free agency
Coming into 2016 NBA free agency, one of the names that has been on the minds of Los Angeles Lakers is undoubtedly Hassan Whiteside of the Miami Heat. With the Lakers having a glaring hole at the center position and with Whiteside looking for a max contract, it seemed like a logical match.
However, it doesn’t look like it’s a logical match in the mind of Whiteside—which is really all that matters in these situations and negotiations.
According to Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders, Whiteside isn’t going to meet with the Lakers and the center only has meetings scheduled with three teams, the Portland Trail Blazers, Dallas Mavericks, and of course the Miami Heat:
Sources: Hassan Whiteside won't meet with the Lakers. He'll hold three meetings - with the Heat, Mavericks and Blazers - in New York.
— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) June 30, 2016
Given how the LaMarcus Aldridge sweepstakes and other recent free agency pursuits have gone over the past few years, there were obvious questions to Kennedy and other insiders what the issue was to where the Lakers can’t even get a meeting with a top free agent like Whiteside.
As Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders points out, though, it’s not as much of an issue with the front office or anything of that sort in this situation as it is with the fact that the Lakers only won 17 games last season and these top-tier free agents want to play for a winner and/or a contender:
Its a losing issue... Durant not meeting with a team outside the 2nd round. Whiteside sticking with playoff teams. https://t.co/UMmsm92Ehj
— Steve Kyler (@stevekylerNBA) June 30, 2016
That obviously paints a bleak picture for the Lakers in 2016 NBA free agency and could mean that LA winds up overpaying for someone like a Harrison Barnes or even like a Zaza Pachulia or someone in free agency this summer.
Next: Lakers: 5 Cheap Targets in Free Agency
However, with the salary cap jumping again next summer, the Lakers might actually be wise to save a bit of cap room and not go too wild this offseason. Things remain fluid, but this definitely feels like the second big whiff for the Lakers after Kevin Durant.