Miami Heat center (Photo : Getty Images)
Hassan Whiteside will surely be one of the hottest names in the free-agency market with the kind of performance he's putting up this season. The 26-year old center is finally living his NBA dream after spending his first few years in and out of the league.
But now, Whiteside is mere months away from securing a long-term contract that could world as much as $20 million per year. Indeed, the Defensive Player of the Year front-runner is bound to get a max contract this offseason. As a matter of fact, several teams are already lining up to get his service - one of them are the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Lakers have already showed their intent to join the 'Whiteside sweepstake' the moment they realized Roy Hibbert isn't the long-term solution they are looking for. In a summer when almost all teams have the ability to sign a max-level player (thanks to significant spike in salary cap), the Lakers know locking up a player like Whiteside would be brutal.
Related Story: Lakers Rumors: 5 under-the-radar free-agents Los Angeles will likely pursue this summer [NBA Free-Agency 2016]
Still, there's an argument that the Lakers might be the front-runner to sign the defensive powerhouse because they have everything Whiteside wants in an NBA franchise.
Ability to offer a max-contract: With Kobe Bryant's and Hibbert's contracts coming off the books at the end of the season, the Lakers have a projected salary cap of $56 million [via Eric Pincus of Basketball Insider]. It's enough to sign two max-level free-agents. According to NBA analysts, Whiteside could demand as much as $20 million to $23 million per year in his next contract, considering the scarcity of elite big men in today's game.
Brighter future with young core: Unlike the Miami Heat whose roster made mostly of veterans, the Lakers have a nice young core in place. Jordan Clarkson, D'Angelo Russell, Julius Randle and whoever they will pick in this year's draft (if they land a top-3 pick in the lottery) will comprise the Lakers nucleus. At 26-year old, Whiteside will have the chance to become the leader of this team and help them contend in next 2 or 3 years.
More money in the Big City: There's a reason why stars want to stay and play in Los Angeles. Whiteside won't be an exception. Playing for a big market franchise like the Lakers would provide him all kinds of opportunity to make more money off the court than any other team. No matter how he downplays it, Whiteside is very much aware of the unlimited possibilities the West Coast can offer to him.
Anything can happen between now and the start of the free-agency period. Whiteside is going to receive tons of offers, that’s for sure. But in case he picks the Lakers, I think we already know the reasons behind his decision.
