Rip City Project
Fansided

Solving the Trail Blazers’ 4 biggest trade deadline question marks

By Austin Carroll

PORTLAND, OR - JANUARY 23: Trevor Ariza #8 of the Portland Trail Blazers looks on before the game against the Dallas Mavericks on January 23, 2020 at the Moda Center Arena in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2020 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR - JANUARY 23: Trevor Ariza #8 of the Portland Trail Blazers looks on before the game against the Dallas Mavericks on January 23, 2020 at the Moda Center Arena in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2020 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Portland Trail Blazers
Hassan Whiteside #21 of the Portland Trail Blazers handles the ball against Willie Cauley-Stein #2 (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

Hassan Whiteside: Should he stay or should he go?

  • Keep him — 1 vote
  • Trade him — 5 votes

Gaskin: We need to move him, and that’s not because I’ve hated what Hassan Whiteside has brought to the team. If anything, he’s proven me wrong and deserves some respect for his play this year. But this is precisely why we need to move him. Nurk is our center, nothing is changing that. That Whiteside contract (plus pieces) must be used to bolster the wing, as this remains Portland’s biggest and most glaring weakness.

Cozens: Whiteside doesn’t help the defense outside of just blocking shots. His statistical production is empty most nights. He probably won’t want to come off the bench when Nurkic is healthy, so he needs to go!

Baker: The Blazers will need Whiteside until Collins is back. Even though I believe Whiteside doesn’t come back next season, we shouldn’t trade him. Whiteside doesn’t have much trade value. I would rather let Whiteside walk this summer, instead of trying to get something out of him.

Brown: He doesn’t fit the system. He’s not the defensive player Nurkic is and with him back, Whiteside becomes useless and expensive.

Carroll: Look, I love what Whiteside has contributed to this team. I think he’s a much better player than the national media wants to give him credit for. That being said, he’s simply inferior to Nurkic and doesn’t make sense logistically (or financially) upon the Bosnian Beast’s return. If we keep Hassan until the end of the season, he walks for nothing in free agency. Olshey should be trying to get any value out of the resurging big man while he still can.

Mandel: I’d actually like him to stay if there are no good options out there. He should only be traded for a rotational player that’ll make a big difference and doesn’t have a terrible contract. However, if we can get a starting small forward for him, we should go for it.