Los Angeles Lakers: Attainable Big-Name Free Agents

5 of 6

Mar 19, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (21) blocks the shot from Cleveland Cavaliers guard Matthew Dellavedova (8) during the second half at American Airlines Arena. The Heat won 122-101. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

Hassan Whiteside, Unrestricted Free Agent

Position: Center
Age: 26 (6/13/1989)
Slash Line: .606/.000/.650
Season Averages: 29.1 MPG, 14.2 PPG, 11.8 RPG, 3.3 ORPG, 3.7 BPG

The modern standards are what they are, but the Los Angeles Lakers have won 16 NBA championships. Every single one of those teams, with no exceptions, had an interior force to be reckoned with.

If the Lakers are adapting to the modern standards for NBA basketball, then Hassan Whiteside is the perfect free agent to bridge the gap between the new era and old regime.

If the Lakers remain true to the current core, then D’Angelo Russell and Julius Randle will need a teammate who can anchor the defense. If Los Angeles opts to follow the free agency and trade routes, then whomever it acquires will need a teammate who can anchor the defense.

No matter what happens, the Lakers will need a player who can anchor the defense.

Whiteside’s defensive prowess is well-established, but not enough attention goes to his offense. The 7’0″ and 265-pound center with a 7’7″ wingspan physically overwhelms opponents, but he also made 49 midrange jump shots on 41.2 percent shooting in 2015-16.

If given more touches, it stands to reason that Whiteside could provide similar production to a late 2000s Andrew Bynum.

Home/Los Angeles Lakers