Whiteside destination number three – Washington Wizards
Hear me out on this one. The Washington Wizards had some of the worst defensive stats in the league in the 2019/20 regular season. With no dependable rim protection, they were the worst defensive team in the league in regards to opposition scoring efficiency and points allowed per game.
They also allowed the second-most fouls in the league and had the third-worst defensive rebounding rate.
We know Whiteside won’t make your team a top ten defense, but he will at least make opposition teams think twice before entering the paint. His massive body and league-leading shot-blocking could give the Wizards an instant boost. They only have the one center under contract for 2021, in Thomas Bryant.
Bryant is more of an offensive center, who has never been in the top 25 percent for his position in protecting the rim or rebounding. He is young though, and sharing the center minutes with Whiteside could provide the Wizards with 48 minutes of competent center play.
With franchise centerpiece, John Wall looking to come back in 2021, being able to pair him with a legitimate starting center in Whiteside could make his return just that little bit easier.
The Wizards don’t have significant cap space for 2021 – but they will probably have use of the mid-level exception. Maybe a two or three year deal for Whiteside would mean he could form a strong trio with Wall and Bradley Beal who are both under contract through the 2021/22 season.
All three of these rebuilding teams need competent center play as they look to fill their rosters out for the 2020/21 season. WIth the center market not exactly full of rim protectors or elite rebounders, Whiteside could make a positive contribution right away.