The LA Lakers may get a coveted test run with Hassan Whiteside by trading for him before the deadline.
The team is poised to make max offers to players who could become their next stars. The Lakers could have the most salary cap space among all teams in the NBA.
One of their targets is Hassan Whiteside of the Miami Heat. While the Heat continue to roll with him in their roster, they also understand that they stand to lose him in free agency. Despite all his shortcomings, he is the league leader in blocked shots and that along can ignite a bidding war for him among the teams.
The Lakers are expected to be at the forefront since they do not have a long-term answer at center and they don't seem interested in re-signing Roy Hibbert. However, there is small reason for the Lakers to trade for Whiteside now, as ESPN Insider illustrated.
"Because the Lakers would have to use cap space to sign Whiteside to a max-type contract whether he is on their roster or not, trading players or picks for him would only make sense to prevent the Miami Heat from trading him elsewhere at the deadline," ESPN noted.
If the Lakers are driven to this point, Fan Sided suggested that they trade Lou Williams in exchange.
"They're going to have to give something up. And, if you're the Miami Heat, you'd pretty much take anything at this point - picks, or perhaps even a shooter Lou Williams)," Fan Sided's Michael Saenz said. "Something like trading Luol Deng's expiring contract, along with Whiteside, for Williams works. The Heat would get an additional scorer off the bench and the Lakers would get their big man. If they're willing, that's something the Heat and Lakers should think about."
It is a workable deal as the Lakers are amenable to trading their veterans. It could also give them a clearer look at Whiteside who, despite his monster stats, is considered as a high risk player.
