The Los Angeles Lakers are expected to monitor the buyout market and explore trades for help in the frontcourt, and Sacramento Kings center Hassan Whiteside may be among their targets, according to Dan Woike and Broderick Turner of the LA Times.
The Lakers (22-10) have lost three straight home games heading into Wednesday’s visit to the Western Conference-leading Utah Jazz, and are expected to be without injured star forward Anthony Davis for another 3-4 weeks.
The Whiteside rumor is merely speculation at this point, but it may make sense for LA. He is averaging 8.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.3 blocks, offering a large and productive presence off the bench in his first year back with the Kings.
It is not known if the Kings are looking to move on from Whiteside, or what they might seek in a trade. But they have lost eight straight and very well could be looking to shake up the roster a bit.
Meanwhile, as Woike and Turner also relayed, the Lakers aren’t expected to have an interest in free agent center DeMarcus Cousins, waived by the Houston Rockets on Tuesday.
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