Sources: Whiteside is Lakers ‘Priority’ Free Agent Target

The Los Angeles Lakers plan to aggressively pursue Miami HEAT center Hassan Whiteside when NBA free agency starts, according to league sources.

With rim protection and perimeter shooting ranking as the Lakers’ foremost areas of concern heading into the open market, sources told ESPN that Whiteside has emerged as a priority target.

The Lakers, like the HEAT, are still hopeful of securing a face-to-face recruiting meeting with Oklahoma City Thunder star Kevin Durant once free agency begins at 12:01 a.m. ET July 1. But the Lakers, sources say, are highly intrigued by Whiteside and what he could bring them as a double-double presence inside.

Source: Marc Stein and Ramona Shelburne of ESPN