Finally, I can feel the slightest bit validated for fiercely defending Hassan Whiteside over the summer. Hassan has added a whole new element to this Blazers team this year and I’d like to think he’s finally shed the reputation of being incapable of being a “team-first, not me-first” player.
Miami’s locker room culture is notorious for making or breaking players, and its uplifting to see Whiteside excel here in Rip City.
So far this year, Whiteside is leading the league with 2.7 blocked shots per game. This would be the first time he’s accomplished that feat since 2016. After making only a hilariously miserable 44.9 percent of his free throws last year, he’s making a career high 76.4 percent attempts from the charity stripe this year. Though he’s not always perfect, Whiteside has clearly looked like Portland’s best defender this year.
He’s shown a willingness to improve on all aspects of his game and actually looks focused more often than not, which was the biggest concern of his critics back in Miami.
With all that being said, Hassan is still a very likely candidate to be moved at the trade deadline due to his financial situation and the imminent return of Jusuf Nurkic. Whiteside’s hefty $27 million salary comes off the books after this year and he’ll likely be looking to secure one final pay day — one that Portland almost assuredly cannot afford.
If the front office is unsure of Hassan’s willingness to take a discount to stay with the team, it makes very little sense to keep him and ride out the year when he’s managed to recover a sliver of trade value this season.
Nurkic is always going to ‘the man’ in the paint. He’s earned that starting position and does so much to make his teammates better. I just don’t see Whiteside forfeiting more money and minutes to stay in Portland, and I would never hold that against him for making the logical decision to bolt. That’s why its entirely possible Neil Olshey jumps the gun and nabs a nice long-term piece in exchange for the resurging big man.