Recent rumors have emerged that the Los Angeles Lakers could get Heat center Hassan Whiteside if Miami will be able to snag Kevin Durant in the coming free-agency period.

Hoops Rumors indicated that the Heat will not be able to provide the 26-year-old Whiteside the maximum salary that he is expected to command from other teams if the team lands superstar forward Durant, who will surely be the main priority of Miami's finances if ever.

Like Us on Facebook

Whiteside currently holds one of the most bargain contracts in the league, a two-year, $1.7 million deal with Miami. He is in the final year of the said agreement which makes him an unrestricted free agent this July.

Unless the Heat is quite sure that they had already lost the Durant sweepstakes, then they will not be able to agree on a max contract for Whiteside.

In reality, though, Pat Riley and company will be very careful to give in to Whiteside's demands because most of their top players, namely Dwyane Wade, Luol Deng, and Joe Johnson, are also set to become unrestricted free agents themselves this summer.

From the bench, Amar'e Stoudemire, Udonis Haslem, Gerald Green, and Dorell Wright are also UFA's in the coming free-agency so team officials will have a difficult time acquiring them all, and that is if they are intending to retain everyone next season.

Meanwhile, the Lakers are seen as one of the teams that could give Whiteside the salary he wants with the Hollywood squad creating a huge space in their salary cap following the retirement of Laker legend Kobe Bryant.

LA badly needs a consistent inside presence in their lineup, both on the offensive and defensive ends, which makes Whiteside one of their top targets this offseason, according to Lakers Nation.

If the Heat will be successful in luring Durant this summer, then they could no longer afford to pay Whiteside the compensation he deserves. That will be the indication the Lakers are waiting for as they move to snatch him away from South Florida.

TagsNBA Free-Agency Rumors, NBA Free-Agency Rumors 2016, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Hassan Whiteside, Kevin Durant