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Los Angeles Lakers: 5 Top Priority Free Agents

By Carter Johnson

Dec 13, 2013; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder small forward Kevin Durant (35) dribbles the ball around of Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant (24) during the second quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 13, 2013; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder small forward Kevin Durant (35) dribbles the ball around of Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant (24) during the second quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
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Miami Heat: Keys To The Game vs. Denver Nuggets
Jan 3, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (21) blocks the shot of Washington Wizards guard Jarell Eddie (8) in the second quarter at Verizon Center. The Heat won 97-75. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Hassan Whiteside

The Lakers need defense. They need it badly.

The team is giving up the fifth-most points per game in the league at 106.6 a night while allowing opponents to shoot 47 percent from the field, the second-worst in the association. Although they could use improved defense at every position, it is especially needed at the center spot.

Enter Miami Heat shot-blocking savant Hassan Whiteside.

After bursting onto the scene in South Beach in the latter half of last season, Whiteside has stayed hot in the 2015-16 season. The center is averaging 13.5 points, 11.7 rebounds and a league-leading 3.8 blocks per game, showing off the ability to be a dominant offensive threat as well as maintaining his excellence as a rim protector.

This kind of play makes Whiteside a shoo-in to demand top dollar this offseason.

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Potential two-way center signs with rival after workout with Golden State Warriors
Potential two-way center signs with rival after workout with Golden State Warriors /

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    • That’s why it’s kind of surprising that there are rumblings that the Heat may not seek to re-sign him. But with Pat Riley balancing the obligation to re-sign franchise player Dwyane Wade and making a play for Kevin Durant, one could see how Whiteside might slip through the cracks.

    If that should happen, there may not be a better team in the market for Whiteside than the Lakers.

    As previously mentioned, Mitch Kupchak and company are in perfect position to dole out a max deal to any top free agent willing to come to L.A. — and there would be few better ways to spend that money than on a center like Whiteside.

    Whiteside would fit right in in Los Angeles from both a traditional and current standpoint, as he could stand to be the ever-essential franchise center and rim protector that has long been a calling card for the purple and gold.

    I mean, just imagine Whiteside in a Lakers jersey turning away shots at the rim, dominating opponents on the boards and cramming home lobs from D’Angelo Russell and Jordan Clarkson out of pick-and-rolls.

    Quite a beautiful sight, I know.

    The Heat should look to re-sign Whiteside — but if they don’t, he’ll be quite the steal for the Lakers.

    Next: Big Star In The Big City

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