Lakers Rumors: Latest on Hassan Whiteside, Chandler Parsons and More

It wouldn't be too wild to suggest the Los Angeles Lakers want in on every notable free-agent name this summer.

Such a notion speaks to the disastrous past trips to the market that left the roster drained, and to the weight the organization is set to throw behind a full rebuild after three years of smart draft picks.

While speaking with the media about the team's plan this summer, new head coach Luke Walton had a straightforward approach, per Joey Ramirez of Lakers.com.

"A lot of that comes from veteran leadership. I think that we will be searching out some guys like that. Obviously with the cap space we have, we’ll be searching out some All-Star-caliber players as well. You kind of try to make a nice mixture of all that," Walton said.

With that theme in mind, let's take a look at the latest rumors, which offer a brief look back before turning toward the market's opening.

Missed Draft Opportunities

By most accounts, the Lakers hit it out of the park during the draft, selecting Duke's Brandon Ingram at No. 2 and Croatian center Ivica Zubac at No. 32.

No complaints. Ingram is a potential All-Star who averaged 17.3 points and 6.8 rebounds per game while hitting 41.0 percent of his three-pointers as a freshman. Zubac, on the other hand, comes in at 7'1" and 240 pounds and, while raw, could be the future at the position should he develop as a rim protector. 

Maybe the only thing folks could claim as a negative is that the team didn't have more selections, though according to Eric Pincus of the Los Angeles Times, the team tried to add more:

Look, another second-round pick might not have made the biggest difference, but it's nice to know the organization continues to be aggressive in its pursuits.

Perhaps more important is the notion that the Lakers wouldn't give up a future draft pick, which means the team was perhaps trying to dangle some veterans who don't fit into the equation anymore such as, say, Nick Young.

The potential for future salary dumping and roster clearing is why this is worth bringing up, so keep it in mind as free agency approaches.

Lakers In on Chandler Parsons?

The Lakers have plenty of cash to spend, and the brass in the front office might find it wise to throw maximum cash at a player to lure him to town even though other teams might shy away from the same decision.

Chandler Parsons comes to mind as an example.

"Parsons will be pursued by the Orlando Magic, the Los Angeles Clippers and the Los Angeles Lakers, the source says, once free agency opens up on July 1," Mike Leslie of WFAA wrote.

Leslie noted Parsons wants max money, but his most recent team, the Dallas Mavericks, won't cough up the necessary cash.

The Lakers might.

Yes, Parsons played in only 61 games last year, hasn't appeared in more than 70 since 2013-14 and has surpassed the mark only twice in five years as a pro.

Fine, but he posted averages of 13.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game last year and has shot 47.4 percent from the floor and 38.0 percent from deep in his career.

Parsons isn't Kevin Durant, and maybe the Lakers are the only team that's ready to throw a max contract his way. But he is a proven veteran who can help a team win games, and while the rest of the roster develops, he's the type of free agent who can help rebuild the culture within the organization.

Folks might not throw a party like a Big Three is on its way to town, but the Lakers could do worse than Parsons.

Just look at the last few years.

All-In on Hassan Whiteside?

Chuck Burton/Associated Press

On paper, center is one of the last positions on the roster the Lakers need to upgrade, and now would be the time to do it. Forgetting Dwight Howard—bridges burned and all—free agency will still feature major names such as Al Horford, Hassan Whiteside and even old friend Pau Gasol.

According to Marc Stein and Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.com, the Lakers plan to aggressively pursue Whiteside, though the plan sounds like a Durant-first scenario:

"

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.

"

In other words, the Lakers find the allure of one of the most dominant players in the league worth the investment.

Shocking, right?

Whiteside might be 27 years old, but he's essentially entering his second full NBA season after two years and 19 total appearances with the Sacramento Kings. Last year, he averaged 14.2 points, 11.8 rebounds and 3.7 blocks per game.

Whiteside wants to get the entire free-agency experience behind him as soon as possible, according to Ethan J. Skolnick of the Miami Herald:

The longer it drags on, the more likely it seems that Whiteside would leave the Heat, a team that has to worry about paying Dwyane Wade and figuring out the Chris Bosh situation (blood clots).

This is nothing but good news for Whiteside. There's seemingly unlimited cash in Los Angeles when one takes endorsements and the city into account, especially if Whiteside can help the Lakers become contenders in the Western Conference again.

Whiteside makes the most sense for Los Angeles because of the way he takes pressure off others. In theory, D'Angelo Russell and Ingram would have more freedom to move with Whiteside down low, not to mention more shot opportunities. Julius Randle wouldn't have to do it all on the defensive glass. It goes on and on.

In fact, a Lakers-Whiteside marriage almost seems too good to be true. With the way the Lakers have altered their luck as of late, though, maybe it's not as ridiculous as it seems.

All stats and info via ESPN.com unless otherwise specified.