We know the Lakers should be interested in Hornets Small Forward Nic Batum. Besides Kevin Durant and LeBron James — neither of whom the Lakers will sign, much less meet with — Batum is the top SF on the market and has a skill set the Lakers desperately need. It will take the max to sign him which, for Batum, is a salary starting at $26 million.
He will make this amount of money and, in the new NBA economy, will make it easily. Teams will line up to offer it to him. The question is which team will he want to pay it to him?
This is where the Lakers come in. It has long been believed the Hornets have more than just the inside track at retaining Batum, but that it is a foregone conclusion. The versatile forward was a lynch-pin to Steve Clifford’s schemes on both sides of the ball and helped the Hornets return to the playoffs. They would give him the money and he would return.
Maybe those assumptions jumped the gun a bit? Brad Turner of the LA Times says the Lakers may be in play:
Free agent small forward Nicolas Batum mulling over options, including talking with Lakers, source. He's flying from Paris to US tomorrow.
— Brad Turner (@BA_Turner) June 29, 2016
I am not doubting Turner’s reporting at all. The Lakers have money to spend, have fantastic brand recognition and history despite several consecutive down seasons, have budding young talent, and are still in Los Angeles. The perception of their status as a free agent destination has taken hits, but someone is going to take their money eventually. Maybe Batum is that guy.
Still, though, Turner’s report also feels very much like a leverage play by Batum/his camp to ensure he gets the max. Everyone knows the Lakers needs, their cap space situation, and their desire to sign impact free agents. There are few things easier than to leak that your free agent is willing to consider the Lakers and hope it impacts negotiations with a team higher on your list.
I am not saying this is what Batum is doing, but when I first read this report it was the first thing which popped into my head. Now, if Batum actually meets with the Lakers rather than just “mulling over his options” with them, let’s talk more. While the Lakers have not had great success closing once they get a free agent in the room lately, getting in the room is the first step. So, it would be nice to get that chance with Batum.
The situation bears watching, for sure. I just don’t have my hopes up — yet. Things can change quickly, though. And Batum sure would be a nice get even if he will be quite expensive.
Mid Wilshire says
I expect the following players to sign with their established teams within the first 2 or 3 days of Free Agency:
Nic Batum
DeMar DeRozan
Mike Conley
I expect that Kevin Durant will kick a few proverbial tires, then re-sign with OKC after about 10 days. LeBron will of course return to Cleveland.
I also believe that the Lakers will have a legitimate shot at Hassan Whiteside. If he’s not available, then I would expect them to pursue Biyombo. And I still believe that Solomon Hill would be a good logical get for the Lakers, a SF who would not canibalize Brandon Ingram’s minutes and who would be content to come off the bench at mid-season when Ingram becomes ready to start.
We shall see what happens.
This should be a very important off season for the Lakers.
Lakers Future says
Batum would be a steal for the Lakers. Batum and Whiteside would be a dream off season for me. But I honestly think its just a leverage play. I expect Batum to resign with Charlotte. Not sure about Whiteside. But I don’t like that Dallas has the first meeting.
Also, in honor of Darius’ new commenting system I changed my handle. T. Rogers (like Kobe) is officially retired.
BigCitySid10552 says
– Free agent targets for Lakers appear to be all over the place, which probably means they’re not going to get any of their top two or three choices. Especially if Durant was one of those targets.
– As much as I would love to see this team improve by adding Whiteside & Batum, I’m trying to come to terms with aquiring Miles Plumlee or Ian Mahinmi at the 5 & Harrison Barnes or Marvin Williams at the 3.
– Will have a better idea in 24 hours.
matt24 says
Batum would be a good pick up, he can play the 2 or 3, would be a leader, does alot of things good, pass, shoot, steal, and as a defender good enough. An unselfish player, would fit nice in Lukes team ball system.
Also regarding charlotte, they already have kid-gilchrist, and it looks like the hole at power forward might be a bigger priority. And I’m trying to remember charlotte in the playoffs was batum hurt, did he come off the bench, did he play at all, does anyone else here know. Didn’t charlotte make a weird trade in the draft, they traded thier pick for 30 year old sg belinelli, what’s up with that?
matt24 says
Lakers with batum at sg would have length in the backcourt
Russell 6’5
Butum 6’8
Ingram 6’9
Msway says
Take a real shot at Whiteside and horford,horford first,at the same time deliver offer to Batum/Bazemore,-Batum first,Then move to Ryan Anderson/Brandon Bass and fill out roster with solid pros ,short term that aren’t head cases. I count 7 roster spots if we stretch nick
new rr says
Adrian Wojnarowski ?@WojVerticalNBA 6m6 minutes agoSources: As 12:01 AM nears, free agent Hassan Whiteside’s focus is centered on Miami and Dallas. Decision could come quickly on July 1.
Clay Bertrand says
The DooDoo is FLYING more than ever leading up to this historic (the Cap jump is historic at least) FA period!!!! I can’t wait for the rubber to hit the road and for it all to start becoming real. The Media is in a LATHER and the stories are now at a rolling boil.
Yet for all the “interest” the Lakers appear to have in every living professional basketball player including Jackie Moon, there are NO published reports of meetings set with ANYONE. Mitch himself says, there may be meetings, there may not be. Well OTHER TEAMS have ACTUAL MEETINGS SCHEDULED!!!!!
We are reading about all of Durant’s meetings, Horford’s meetings, Dallas meeting with Whiteside at 12:01 and Conley at 12:02, Ryan Anderson meetings, HELL it has been made known that Solomon Hill has 4 meetings lined up. FOUR MEETINGS for a 3rd tier FA!!!!!!!!!
Do the Lakers have ANY meetings lined up at ALL?!?!?!?!?!!? Is it just gonna be this pathetic deal where Mitch basically CRASHES other teams meetings like the Kool Aid Man (“OHHH YEAHHHHH!!!! WE GOT 16 RINGS!!!!! SIGN WITH US….OH YEAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!”)??????
At this point, I’d be happy for us to get a meeting with Andrew Goudelock!!!!! smh
Lakers Future says
Clay Bertrand
I’m a little anxious like you are. Of course the Lakers could be working things behind the scenes. One thing the Lakers seem to lack is a true front office salesman. And Luke can’t be that guy from his position. They need a guy in the front office with enough charisma to really sell the team to free agents. Unfortunately the Lakers brand alone is not enough lure free agents anymore. Obviously winning will cure that. But one way to start winning sooner is to lure free agents. But they have to be willing to meet with you first.
samla says
to me if we could get batum and biyombo that would be a huge get — alleviates my ambivalence on the whiteside investment
batum would actually be my number 1 priority
if we have to roll the dice on ezeli or take on a mozgof or pachulia if dallas gets whiteside at way way less than the max leaves space to get another rotation player or rollover to next year
if okc needs a salary dump if it lands horford i’s take ennis kantner at 18 per
I’m assuming we have no shot at horford who would be my number 1 center option
Clay Bertrand says
Batum meeting with Mavs, Rondo meeting with Nets, Parsons meeting with Blazers……..
Lakers still haven’t even introduced their drafted rookies. At least Batum MIGHT give the Lakers a phone call. MIGHT!!!! That is the best FA reciprocation we have had. ONE guy MIGHT call us.
At this rate, Mitch will have to land on top of Jared Dudley’s house at 9:01 in a helicopter full of Gold Doubloons to MAYBE get a sit down with a pudgy, 4th tier FA.
Msway says
When the laker practice games start at the end of october,I will be watching the lakers,and be just as interested as I was when I was a little dude watching -Jerry and Wilt-Mitch may not be Mr personality ,but when it comes to real experience he knows what to do and how to create champions. Our all stars are in the test tube incubating, Buying dream teams wont ever shut up your critics-The guys that spit on the lakers now will be wishing that we will consider them a year or two from now But we will be fine tuning for another dynesty run.