Hassan Whiteside (Photo : Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Lakers are rumored to be already looking at the possible players they could acquire come free agency.
The Lakers' playoff hopes are already gone, with the team carrying a dismal record of 7-27. They are currently at the bottom of the West standings and are ultimately expected to miss the postseason.
With Kobe Bryant set to retire at the end of the season, the 16-time NBA champs are already looking for a marquee player that will take over Los Angeles and the Purple and Gold franchise.
OKC Thunder superstar Kevin Durant has been rumored to be on the Lakers' radar next summer, but according to Steve Kyler and Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders, LA's front office could probably look at signing Miami Heat big man Hassan Whiteside and Golden State Warriors wing man Harrison Barnes instead.
Kyler predicted that Durant is "not very likely" to come to Los Angeles despite the Lakers having the flexibility to sign top talented players when free agency hits.
Kyler added that Durant has already signed massive endorsement deals over the last two years of his NBA career, so it puts the two-time scoring champion to "enter the process with money not being a factor in his decision."
"Durant likely shops, as every free agent should, but ultimately I think he stays in OKC for the rest of his career," Kyler wrote.
With the possibility of Durant returning to OKC, or probably sign with another team like the Washington Wizards, the Lakers could really entertain the idea to sign the likes of Whiteside and Barnes.
Kennedy noted that Whiteside is the guy "LA should pursue the hardest," while Barnes could be interested in taking a bigger role in Tinsel town, where he could play alongside other young talented players in Jordan Clarkson, Julius Randle, and D'Angelo Russell.
But Barnes will be a restricted free agent, which means the Lakers would likely to throw a huge deal to snatch Barnes from the defending champs.
However, according to Brendan Patel of Rant Sports, the Lakers may be inclined to make big moves before the trade deadline.
Patel noted that the Lakers could bank on their 2016 top-three unprotected draft pick as one of their future pieces, but "management has shown in the past that they are unafraid to make big moves, and there are currently several unhappy stars around the league the team could possibly go after. The Lakers will have some big decisions to make before the trade deadline which could determine their future."
The Lakers have not been the top destination for free agents in the past two seasons, but next summer could turn out different for LA.
