The LA Lakers is already tasting some frustration in the offseason. Even with the cap space they possess, they find it difficult to land free agents.
This offseason is unprecedented because of the huge rise in the salary cap. While the Lakers signed their contracts to become players in this summer's free agency, they did not anticipate the number of rivals who can also offer max salaries.
They already took a major blow when Kevin Durant did not include the Lakers in his first set of meetings. Thus, they have set their sights on Hassan Whiteside as their top priority after KD, and the good news is that Whiteside wants to decide early, as reported by Michael Wallace of ESPN.
Whiteside mentioned that he is considering all options and this was expected since the Miami Heat do not have his full Bird Rights and does not have much of an advantage over the other teams in financial terms.
"I really don't think it's about loyalty. I think it's just about [finding] the best situation for myself," Whiteside said. "I didn't say [Miami] wasn't the best situation, but we're going to see what happens. It's not like I'm really counting the Heat out or counting on another team. It's just open."
It was also mentioned that he hopes to make the process short, settling it as early as the first day of free agency. "On July 1, hopefully I'll know," Whiteside said "I hope it's an easy decision to make."
Thus, the Lakers stand on uncertain ground again. Hence, they may have to get creative to fill out their needs.
One option is to trade for a center (as they already have Brandon Ingram as their answer to small forward, for now) and a name that has been tossed around is Brook Lopez of the Brooklyn Nets.
The Nets are bereft of young talent and like the Lakers, are also challenged in free agency. Because of their infamous trade with the Boston Celtics, they don't have draft picks to build their future on.
Arthur Hill of Hoops Rumors believes Brook Lopez could be available as trade bait for younger talent. He noted that the Nets' plans don't seem to be set in stone.
"Whether Brooklyn would be willing to trade him is anybody's guess. New GM Sean Marks emphatically said he planned to rebuild around Lopez and Thaddeus Young, then traded Young to Indiana this week for a draft pick."
Hill also mentioned that Lopez was just 28 years old and played like he had fully recovered from his foot injury that sidelined him for almost a full season.
The Lakers could offer Larry Nance and possibly Lou Williams or Nick Young for Lopez. If there aren't too many offers for the big man, the Nets could consider.