Update:
Mike Bresnahan of the LA Times has reported the team has Batum on top of their list of targets this free agency period.
To keep track of all free agency moves, click here.
Original post:
As the news that the Lakers will not get a meeting with Hassan Whiteside came in, the team has to shift its attention elsewhere. Whiteside will only meet with the Heat, Mavericks, and Trailblazers with his main focus being on Dallas and Miami.
This could mean the team will be going harder after other centers such as Ian Mahinmi and Bismack Biyombo or trying to sign a max contract wing in Chandler Parsons or Nicolas Batum. Fortunately we have an update on one of those names as Tim MacMahon of ESPN reports.
Source tells @MarcJSpearsESPN that Nic Batum will meet with Hornets and Mavs in Dallas and will talk to Knicks, Lakers, Wizards on phone.
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) June 30, 2016
Going into the free agency period it was a preconceived notion that Batum would stay in Charlotte after he had a terrific season and was vital to the team, and while that still might be the case, he is at least willing to give other teams the time of day.
Although, its obvious you would rather have a face-to-face meeting with a player you covet, the team is on Batum’s radar and thats a start.
Props to Batum for his respect for the the Lakers to give them an over the phone listen.
