News 'n Views - June 2016: Lakers prepared for another summer of rejection

lakersfreak · Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2016 11:43 pm Post subject:

Lakers to focus more on basketball than Hollywood in free agent pitches
by Mark Medina - ocregister.com

The Lakers’ 16 NBA championship trophies, the sunny skies and proximity to Hollywood once represented the only visual selling points they needed to land their next star.

That hardly impressed LaMarcus Aldridge, though.

Aldridge thought his first free agency meeting with the Lakers last summer focused too much on Hollywood glitter and not enough on basketball substance. The Lakers’ front office, former Lakers coach Byron Scott and Kobe Bryant attended the meeting. But so did officials with Time Warner Cable and AEG.

“I don’t think we’re going to have to rely on our partners as much as we have in the past,” Kupchak said Thursday night after the NBA draft. “We can focus a little bit more on the basketball side of it. We do have more to sell. The franchise and the city have always sold themselves. I’m not sure we’ll concentrate on that as much as we did last year.”

Kupchak said the Lakers’ pitch “will depend on the free agent.” He also suggested that he, executive Jim Buss and Lakers coach Luke Walton will lead the meetings once free agency begins on July 1.

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lakersfreak · Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2016 11:44 pm Post subject:

Lakers have 'no shot' at signing Kevin Durant, early reports indicate
by Harrison Faigen - silverscreenandroll.com

The Durant dream for LA may be dead before free agency begins.

The Los Angeles Lakers aren't among the first batch of teams set to meet with the big prize in NBA Free Agency this summer in Kevin Durant, and it doesn't sound like they have much of a chance at signing the headlining act of July 1. The Lakers have "no shot" at signing Durant, according to what USA Today's Sam Amick has been told early in the process.

Durant has meetings with the Golden State Warriors, Oklahoma City Thunder, Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs and Boston Celtics lined up. The New York Knicks are a dark horse after their acquisition of Derrick Rose, according to Amick, but it remains unclear whether they'll land a meeting with the crown jewel of free agency.

Durant's hometown Washington Wizards are also in the cold as things currently stand. Here's an excerpt on what Amick had to say about the Durant decision, via USA TODAY Sports:

Despite years of speculation about Durant possibly signing with his hometown Washington Wizards or the Los Angeles Lakers, a person with knowledge of his situation told USA TODAY Sports that those two teams are not expected to land a meeting with the former MVP. As it stands, it's the six aforementioned teams coming Durant's way at a location that has not yet been determined....

Barring an unforeseen change in which a meeting is granted as a way of helping a franchise save face, this development will come as quite a blow to the Lakers group that spent the past few years planning with Durant's free agency in mind. There are other free agency fish in the sea, to be sure, but none with the starpower of a Durant. As for the Wizards, they're taking the two-track approach: patiently waiting on Durant's call with hopes of being surprised while moving on with their non-Durant free agency plans so as not to be slowed down by a pipe dream.

The Lakers are reportedly focused on acquiring a center to complement the young core they've compiled, but not even getting a meeting with Durant certainly feels like a blow. It could help their free agency process on the other hand, knowing that their Durant dream is dead before committing time and resources to it.

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lakersfreak · Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2016 11:45 pm Post subject:

Lakers plan to 'aggressively pursue' Hassan Whiteside in free agency
by Harrison Faigen - silverscreenandroll.com

The team is looking to make big moves (literally).

The Los Angeles Lakers will have the most cap space in the NBA when free agency kicks off on July 1st, and it sounds like they are going to try and use it to plug their roster's gigantic hole at center.

The front office plans to "aggressively pursue" Miami Heat free agent center Hassan Whiteside in free agency, according to Marc Stein and Ramona Shelburne of ESPN. Whiteside, who the Heat signed out of the D-League during the 2014-15 season, averaged 14.2 points, 11.8 rebounds, and a league-leading 3.7 blocks per game last year.

Whiteside will in all likelihood be seeking a max contract following a season in which he made less than $1 million dollars, and there are plenty of reasons the Lakers would be wise to give it to him. Whiteside is a rarity in free agency: a low-mileage, 27-year old unrestricted free agent who would slot in almost perfectly with the timeline of the Lakers' young core.

His fit would be nearly as flawless on the court, where he would be far-and-away the best pick-and-roll dance partner D'Angelo Russell and Jordan Clarkson have ever had, while his rim protection would be able to compensate for a ton of the issues the Lakers' defense faced last year.

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lakersfreak · Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2016 11:46 pm Post subject:

Hassan Whiteside says he’s a ‘businessman.’ The Lakers could be good for business.
by Eric Goldwein - washingtonpost.com

The Los Angeles Lakers may not be the star destination they once were after last summer’s failed pitches (yes, multiple) to LaMarcus Aldridge and the recent reports that they’re not even getting a meeting with Kevin Durant.

Like most teams, the Lakers have cap room. And they are reportedly trying to spend it on free agent Hassan Whiteside, who appears ready to field their offer.

On Friday, Whiteside posted a cryptic message on Snapchat, “I’m a businessman that plays basketball.” Saturday afternoon, ESPN reported that the Lakers plan to aggressively pursue him when free agency begins.

Whether this would be a good move for the Lakers is unclear. Los Angeles needs a center, but it needs help in a lot of places. Whiteside is a talented shot blocker and rim protector, but he’s been far from a model of consistency. He’s also had problems staying healthy. He sat out most of the second-round series against Toronto with a knee injury and he played only 48 games in 2014-15. Overpaying injury-prone players is part of what got the Lakers into this mess in the first place.

Then again, beggars can’t be choosers. The Lakers went 17-65 last season, and while prized rookie Brandon Ingram and talented second-year standout D’Angelo Russell present hope for the future, the team as currently constructed is a long shot for the playoffs. The lure of the championship banners, the history and the purple and gold may no longer be enough to score a meeting with superstars, let alone sign them. That the Lakers no longer have false hope might be good for their future, as they can move on to more realistic targets.

As for Whiteside, Los Angeles could be a good business and basketball decision. A second-round pick in 2010, Whiteside spent the first four seasons of his career bouncing around the D-League before breaking out with the Heat last season. The 7-foot center continued to develop as a defender this past season while under contract for less than $1 million. Whether he opts to stay in Miami or sign a max deal with another team, he’ll likely get paid more in 2016-17 than he has in total thus far for his career.

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lakersfreak · Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2016 11:48 pm Post subject:

DeMar DeRozan focused on Raptors, not other teams
by Tim MacMahon - espn.go.com

Toronto Raptors shooting guard DeMar DeRozan does not plan to schedule meetings with other teams at the start of free agency, opting to focus on working out a contract to return to the Eastern Conference finalists, a source told ESPN.com.

DeRozan, 26, a two-time All-Star who led the Raptors with 23.5 points per game last season, has been consistent in stating that his strong preference is to remain with the only franchise he has played for during his seven-year NBA career.

"My mindset has always been Toronto," DeRozan told reporters the day after the Raptors were eliminated by the Cleveland Cavaliers. "I've always preached it. I was passionate about it when we were losing, when we were terrible. I said I was going to stick through this whole thing, and I want to be that guy who brings this organization to where it is now. I definitely don't want to switch that up after we win."

DeRozan, arguably the top shooting guard in free agency, would be in high demand if he chose to explore his options beginning July 1. However, the source said the unrestricted free agent would only look into meeting with other teams if talks with Toronto broke down.

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danzag · Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2016 6:56 am Post subject:

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lakersfreak · Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2016 11:58 pm Post subject:

The Lakers are finally embracing modern basketball
by Jovan Buha - foxsports.com

After years of reluctance, the Lakers are joining the party.

The Los Angeles Lakers have lived in the past for far too long.

Since the Lakers' last championship in 2010, basketball has undergone an evolution, where pace, space and 3-point shooting are the pillars of modern success. The Lakers have been slow to embrace the movement, choosing to instead double-down on Kobe Bryant and his archaic skill set, which seemingly belonged in a distant era, as the rest of the NBA passed them by.

Some examples: Last season, the franchise essentially punted a developmental year for their young, promising core to commemorate Bryant's 20th and final season. The Lakers' pitch to star free agents in recent offseasons has been some mix of Look at our brand and Count the rings. And as analytics shifted to the forefront of NBA analysis, the organization remained skeptical, until caving recently.

This offseason, though, there appears to a palpable shift in the Lakers' approach.

The first step was hiring former Laker and Golden State Warriors assistant coach Luke Walton. While still an ode to the franchise's glory days, Walton's hiring suggests the Lakers are looking to adopt the tenets of modern basketball, which is considerable progress from the tumultuous reign of Byron Scott.

Walton is an unknown commodity, to be sure. His 39-4 stint this season as an interim coach with the Warriors was certainly impressive, but it's difficult to glean much from such a small sample size. He could end up being a mediocre (or worse) coach.

Yet as a Steve Kerr disciple, Walton clearly values 3-point shooting, ball movement, spacing and versatility defensively. As he said in his introductory press conference on Tuesday, joy, individuality and accountablity are the keys to a team's success, which is in stark contrast to most of what Scott preached the past two seasons.

Of course, off-court theory doesn't always translate to on-court success. But again, this is progress. The Lakers' last three coaching hires were Mike Brown, Mike D'Antoni and Scott. Walton is a nice divergence from the pack. We don't know much about him, and that's probably a good thing.

It's difficult for a chef to prevail without the right ingredients, and as such, the selection of Duke product Brandon Ingram with the No. 2 overall pick is even more important than the Walton hiring. Ingram was the obvious choice to many, but in the days of yore, the Lakers might have selected Kris Dunn or Buddy Hield -- known commodities with tangible experience and skill sets -- to satisfy a rabid fan base dying for wins and relevance.

Instead, the Lakers drafted a 6-foot-10 freshman forward who physically embodies the shift in modern basketball. Ingram projects as a traditional small forward with the length and flexibility to play both power forward and shooting guard, and that positionless value is immeasurable in the modern era. If he can pack on some muscle and maintain his athleticism, Ingram might even be able to effectively function as a center in some small-ball lineups, as Kevin Durant has done with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

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lakersfreak · Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2016 11:59 pm Post subject:

Brandon Ingram Holds Lakers' Spotlight, but D'Angelo Russell Holds the Future
by Kevin Ding - bleacherreport.com

This moment belongs to Brandon Ingram.

Eventually, the moment will again belong to the guy who was the Los Angeles Lakers' No. 2 overall pick only a year ago.

After repeated free-agency failures and the decline of the Kobe Bryant era, the Lakers have backed into a very interesting crew of young players whose best-case scenario is developing together.

The key to that scenario is someone to make everybody better, be a unifying force and conduct the orchestra.

Someone just like the D'Angelo Russell praised by Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak at this time a year ago: "His ability to understand the game, see the floor, make a play, display leadership characteristics…I think that's his gift."

Russell, 20, is more motivated than ever to prove himself now that most of the world knows him as a "rat" or "snitch" following his embarrassing cellphone recording of Nick Young last season.

Already, Russell is working like crazy toward next season, especially in the weight room. He's a confident kid who is well equipped to deal with adversity, having spent his entire life trying to prove himself to his big brother.

He's also openly yearning to soak up every drop of knowledge and freedom offered by new Lakers coach Luke Walton, inundating Walton with questions about the steps Stephen Curry took in the past two years.

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lakersfreak · Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2016 12:00 am Post subject:

Lakers Free Agents: Key To Immediate Future
by Hannah Kulik - lakersnation.com

The Los Angeles Lakers have successfully completed the first two phases of the NBA offseason. In May, they obtained the number two pick in the lottery and in June used that pick to select Brandon Ingram. Not only does Ingram fill a large void at the small forward position, but many observers considered him the best player in the draft.

Despite the positive vibes so far, due in part to the hiring of new head coach Luke Walton, the real key to the team’s immediate future will begin July 1 with the start of free agency. This is the time of year when proven NBA talent can move from one team to another at the player’s election.

There are two directions the Lakers can take. They can decide that the current young players under contract will start and be featured, and look to add proven veterans to come off the bench in a supporting role. Or they can shake up the starting lineup by signing top-tier free agents.

Of course, it has been well documented that in recent years the Lakers were rejected by almost all of the free agents they really wanted. This summer, two of the top players in the league, LeBron James and Kevin Durant, are both available; but unlike the Lakers of the past, who were almost everyone’s most desired destination, it is silly to think that either player would give any serious thought to joining the team in its current state.

Still, there are other top-tier players available this summer, and the Lakers have many holes to fill. Here is a position-by-position analysis of what the Lakers need and who might be in line to meet such needs:

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lakersfreak · Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2016 12:01 am Post subject:

Hassan Whiteside wants to decide quickly on free agency
by Dillon Hiser - lakersoutsiders.com

It looks like one of the top free agent targets might not make the Lakers wait on an answer this summer.

With a massive hole at center to address this offseason, the team is reportedly going after Hassan Whiteside with everything they have once free agency begins. After being back and forth from the D-League and overseas, this will be Whiteside’s first time as a highly coveted free agent as he is going to have numerous teams lining up for his services. During the time the big man was looking for an NBA roster he was actually worked out by the Lakers before they ultimately passed on him.

With a massive amount of cap space the Lakers could and should be willing to offer Whiteside a max contract if they have any realistic ambitions about signing the 27-year-old.

In an interview with Ethan J. Skolnick of the Miami Herald, the big man gave an update on how he wants to handle his free agency which starts July 1st.

Whiteside says he hopes his situation is resolved on July 1, and that it's an easy decision
12:52 PM - 26 Jun 2016

The good news here is that Whiteside seems uninterested in letting teams hang around for his services and wants to make a decision quickly. The Heat will reportedly try to retain Whiteside for less than the max, at least initially. So if the deciding factor comes down to whether the Heat will give him the money he wants, and they choose not to, the Lakers could swoop in and try to land a top target of theirs this summer.

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lakersfreak · Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2016 12:03 am Post subject:

Lakers will reportedly meet with Chandler Parsons in free agency
by Dillon Hiser - lakersoutsiders.com

The Lakers seem to be out of the running for Kevin Durant before the free agency period begins on July 1st, but they look to have secured a meeting with another high-quality wing this summer: Dallas Mavericks small forward, Chandler Parsons.

Mike Leslie of WFAA in Dallas reports that the Lakers, Magic, and Clippers have all agreed to meet with the Parsons once free agency begins.

In 2014, Parsons and the Mavericks agreed on a 3-year deal worth $46 million with a player option for the third season, which Parsons opted out of. Dallas is reportedly trying to swing for the fences this offseason, much like any other year, but also has to retain Dirk Nowitzki, who took a pay cut during his last run as a free agent and may not want to do so this time.

The Mavericks are expected to pursue point guard Mike Conley and center Hassan Whiteside during this free agency period. They also need to resign Dirk Nowitzki.

If Parsons is a player the Lakers are seriously interested in, they may have the upper-hand on most other teams as they, along with Orlando, are the only two teams with meetings that can offer Parsons a max contract that he wants. If Dallas hangs around and waits for answers on other free agents, the Lakers could land Parsons if there is mutual interest and they act quickly.

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lakersfreak · Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2016 12:04 am Post subject:

Jabari Brown rejoining Lakers for Summer League
by Honi Ahmadian - lakersoutsiders.com

More details are emerging about the Los Angeles Lakers’ Summer League roster. The team will begin play on July 8 in Las Vegas and it appears they are working to fill out the roster in time.

Earlier today, it was reported that Zach Auguste would join a team already consisting of D’Angelo Russell, Larry Nance, Jr. Anthony Brown, Brandon Ingram, Ivica Zubac, and Moustapha Fall.

Now, it appears another familiar name will be joining the Lakers in Vegas:

Jabari Brown plans to play for Lakers' summer league team, according to league sources.
3:58 PM - 25 Jun 2016

Lakers fans will remember Brown as the college teammate of Jordan Clarkson. The shooting guard showed a penchant for getting to the rim in his time on the Lakers, both in Summer League and during the regular season.

Brown struggled elsewhere, however. He was not a great defender and his score-first mentality (with not that much scoring to show for it) led fans to know him as the player who never passed the ball. Like ever.

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lakersfreak · Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2016 4:32 pm Post subject:

Mitch Kupchak and the Lakers are prepared to be patient with Brandon Ingram’s development
by Harrison Faigen - silverscreenandroll.com

Los Angeles is trusting the (developmental) process.

The Los Angeles Lakers selection of Brandon Ingram with the second overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft will bring a ton of positives to the team next season. Ingram’s ability to consistently knock down three-pointers will allow the team to space the floor and run a more effective offense than they could manage last season, and his length should allow him to eventually lock down players of various shapes and sizes on defense.

“Eventually” is the operative word in that last sentence. Ingram is still just 18-years old and still has a lot of development left before he reaches his peak. Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak understands this, but he also thinks at least one aspect of Ingram’s game will translate to the next level immediately.

“I think because he competes, and he's not afraid of contact based on what we've seen... he will compete at the next level and right from the bat,” said Kupchak during an appearance on ESPN’s SportsCenter. “In other words, [he will] battle bigger players, stronger players.”

While he sounds confident his youngest player will figure it out, Kupchak does acknowledge Ingram will be facing a pretty large size disadvantage during his first year in the league.

“If he plays the same position as LeBron James, then LeBron is 6'8, probably 250 or 260 [pounds], and Brandon is 6'9, and when we weighed him he was like 185 [pounds],” Kupchak continued, “So he's going to battle, but he'll be at a disadvantage with the NBA players just based on strength alone. That will take some time, he will get stronger, and add weight naturally.”

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lakersfreak · Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2016 4:33 pm Post subject:

3 Benefits Of Drafting Brandon Ingram in 2016 NBA Draft
by Keith Rivas - lasportshub.com

The latest Lakers rumors point to the incredibly high potential of their latest draft selection.

Coming out of college means an immediate raise in the expectations of Brandon Ingram — and that extends to both personal goals as well as what fans and the Lakers organization wants to see on the floor.

While there is going to be room for growing pains and improvement as needed, Ingram’s impact, when compared to that of D’Angelo Russell or others, doesn’t necessarily need to wait a while to the felt right away.

Los Angeles was wise to draft Ingram with the second overall selection after Ben Simmons was picked up by Philadelphia.

The move may not send them to the playoffs right away, but with all of the new things including a renewed focus and attitude in the locker room, things are looking up for the Lakers at this point.

Here’s three ways that Brandon Ingram will and has already impacted his new team.

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lakersfreak · Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2016 4:33 pm Post subject:

Top 10 Options For The Los Angeles Lakers In Free Agency
by Trevor Lane - lakersnation.com

It was never realistic to think that Kevin Durant would sign with the Los Angeles Lakers. He needs to win right now, and not waste a single second of his precious prime waiting for the young Lakers to grow up. There is no getting around that problem, regardless of how enticing as the trappings of Hollywood may be.

That said, Durant declining to meet with the Lakers isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Over the past few summers, the Lakers have been notorious for letting attainable players slip through their fingers while they wait for stars to ultimately turn them down. Carmelo Anthony, LaMarcus Aldridge, and DeAndre Jordan all said no eventually, but by the time they did many of the secondary targets on the market were long gone.

Now, with Durant off the board before free agency begins, the Lakers can focus on spending their $66 million in cap space elsewhere. The competition will be incredibly fierce given the fact that the majority of the league has a max salary slot due to the TV-deal driven spike in cap space, but the Lakers may be in a position to turn the tables this year and lock up talent while others are waiting for Durant to make a decision.

So now that Durant has given them their freedom, who should the Lakers go after with their mountain of cash? I’ve compiled a list of the top 10 targets, ranked in order:

*Note: The Lakers have historically avoided restricted free agents, so I’ve left them off this list. Apologies to Harrison Barnes. Also, positional needs were a heavy factor, so no starting-quality point guards here.

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lakersfreak · Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2016 4:35 pm Post subject:

Summer League Roster is shaping up
by Shereen Rayan - lakeshowlife.com

The Los Angeles Lakers are getting ready for Summer League and putting their roster together

Newly minted Los Angeles Lakers head coach Luke Walton went from losing the NBA Finals to landing in Los Angeles to begin his head coaching job with the Lakers.

Walton’s first order of business (or close to it) though will be taking the helm in Las Vegas for NBA Summer League. The former Lakers forward said he wants to be “heavily involved in practice” with the Summer League team, but there is also speculation that simply may not be practical and/or realistic.

Last year’s Summer League team didn’t win any trophy, but seemed pretty stacked with Jabari Brown being the most productive yet not making the Lakers roster (his spot controversially went to Metta World Peace). Brown averaged 17.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists and one steal per game last summer.

However, you could argue this year’s team will be more talented that last year alongside Brown the way things are shaping up. No. 2 overall pick Brandon Ingram out of Duke and 2016 second-rounder Ivica Zubac from Croatia will join Brown. Meanwhile, D’Angelo Russell, Larry Nance Jr., and Anthony Brown will all be headed back to Vegas. That said, Lakers fans may be disappointed as Julius Randle and Jordan Clarkson are expected to sit out the summer.

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Runway8 · Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2016 4:44 am Post subject:

Lakerswaves · Rookie Joined: 20 Jun 2016 Posts: 12

Luke Walton praises Brandon Ingram and D’Angelo Russell

The Lakers’ future resides on their previous two lottery picks in Brandon Ingram and D’Angelo Russell. They were both selected at second in their respective draft class. There is no secret that Ingram and Russell have high expectations to perform well and succeed on the basketball court. They are replacing a franchise player in Kobe Bryant.

The Lakers desperately need talented players on their team and Luke Walton believes that Ingram and Russell are able fit that role. In an interview with Jim Rome, Walton had high praises for his lottery picks, a tune unfamiliar with most Lakers’ fan considering who coached the team last year.

Walton loves Ingram’s versatility and leadership. Ingram is listed as a small forward, but that won’t be the only position he plays for Los Angeles.

I envision him playing multiple spots,” Walton said “ Even bringing the ball up if we want to run D’Angelo [Russell] or whoever off of ball screens, let him run the point spot of offense.”

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lakersfreak · Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2016 9:27 pm Post subject:

Reports of Jim, Jeanie Buss rift resurface; timing be damned
by silverscreenandroll.com

The franchise is heading in a positive direction, free agency is days away, and here we are talking about this again.

Remember all those warm, gushy feelings we had at the time this article, comparing the Lakers to Game of Thrones in a somehow positive light, happened? Yeah, about that. Now, this is no Red Wedding, nor is today's Bleacher Report's Kevin Ding column any kind of doomsday prophecy that features a Cersei-like character losing all three of her kids. No, this morning's reading served as a friendly reminder that positivity should remain tepid anytime bad ownership is involved.

I won't give everything away because anyone even remotely interested in the Lakers should read Ding's piece, but here's a quick recap: Boo Jim Buss. Boo him and, now, boo Mitch Kupchak, too. Boo 'em all, and the other Buss siblings, starting with Jeanie and a whole bunch of other "J"-named kids are just innocent bystanders while Buss and Kupchak have run the NBA's premier brand into the mud.

I'm obviously exaggerating, but it was pretty hard not to get that vibe. Speculating on sources is rarely a great way to endears oneself to the author or the subject of such an article, but this column featured a shoutout to Jeanie Buss' dog, Cujo, who passed away. When a tidbit like that is included, it's hard not to piece two and two together to figure out where at least a portion of the information was coming from. Rest in paradise, Cujo.

The question begs asking, however: Why leak anything now, given the direction of the organization?

A cynic might point to the progress as a reason for the leak. If Jeanie were to hypothetically want Jim gone, progress on his part would obviously get in the way, right? So, what better way to stymy such momentum than to (1) send a reminder of what's at stake heading into free agency and (2) greatly hinder the organization's ability to sign free agents with a pretty blatant example of dysfunction at the ownership level.

How can any agent advise their client to sign somewhere where owners are literally positioning themselves publicly to have another fired into the sun dismissed, regardless of how strong the Lakers' brand might have been previously? Again, this is a cynic's speculation, but given the timing of this, and if Jeanie is behind the leaks (not saying she most definitely is), this is probably something close to where she's coming from.

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lakersfreak · Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2016 9:28 pm Post subject:

Lakers “wish list” includes Kevin Durant, Hassan Whiteside and more
by Gary Kester - lakersoutsiders.com

The Los Angeles Lakers have learned the hard way over the past three summers how difficult it can be to convince a superstar free agent to sign on in a situation that is less than ideal for someone that wants to win right away.

One advantage the Lakers have this time around that they have not had in recent years is the ability to offer two max contracts to free agents, seeing as they have roughly $60 million in cap space heading into the start of free agency on July 1st.

Even with that type of flexibility, the Lakers are in the middle of rebuilding the roster, centered around the young core they have assembled through the draft. With so much youth on the roster, the team is likely a season or two away from even being in the playoffs, barring a splash in free agency.

Still, it has not hindered the Lakers’ mentality of going after the marquee names on the market. According to ESPN’s Chris Broussard, despite a failure thus far to secure a meeting with Kevin Durant, he is at the top of their free agency “wish list” that includes a handful of big names.

I'm told that besides KD, Lakers' wish list includes Whiteside, Al Horford, Nic Batum, Harrison Barnes & Ryan Anderson
6:35 PM - 28 Jun 2016

A few of these names come as no surprise. Durant is a no-brainer as the top player on the market, while Hassan Whiteside, Horford and Batum are probably in the tier right below him.

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lakersfreak · Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2016 9:29 pm Post subject:

Hassan Whiteside’s inside scoring dominance makes him worth every penny for the Lakers
by Drew Garrison - silverscreenandroll.com

There’s no doubt Hassan Whiteside’s inside presence would make an immediate impact for the Lakers. Here’s how.

Hassan Whiteside, on paper, is one of the best fits for the Los Angeles Lakers this summer. We've gone over it in-depth already in preparation for what will reportedly be an "aggressive pursuit" to put Whiteside in a purple and gold jersey, while the free agent big man has gone on record saying he wants to make a decision on July 1.

There might be questions about his character and his defensive lapses, but there’s no question he’s worth every penny to the Lakers because of his ability to crush defenses inside.

Whiteside is an elite finisher as a roll man in pick-and-rolls that would complement D’Angelo Russell perfectly. Russell should thrive out of the pick-and-roll, and finding a long-time partner for him to work with is a necessity for the Lakers. Whiteside leads the pack in free agent big men the Lakers could target this summer in points per possession as a pick-and-roll roll man, and his 70 percent field goal percentage is bananas:

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