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Portland Trail Blazers: 5 important decisions to make in the off-season

By Stevie Cozens

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 29: Carmelo Anthony #00 of the Portland Trail Blazers reacts after being called for a foul against the Los Angeles Lakers during the third quarter in Game Five of the Western Conference First Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 29, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. 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. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 29: Carmelo Anthony #00 of the Portland Trail Blazers reacts after being called for a foul against the Los Angeles Lakers during the third quarter in Game Five of the Western Conference First Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 29, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. 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. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
(Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /

Decision four – whether to bring back Hassan Whiteside

Hassan Whiteside is a touchy subject amongst Blazers fans and media. Some fans think he is the second coming of Dikembe Mutombo, while others see him for who he really is – an average starting center who has good and bad nights.

Whiteside had a great year production-wise for the Blazers. He rebounded well on both ends and was our most consistent finisher at the rim, obviously a problematic area for this team.

But defensively, he was all over the place. Whiteside is a great shot blocker, maybe the NBA’s best shot-blocker in terms of the volume of blocks he can get and his timing. His block on LeBron James in game one of the playoffs led to a huge play that set up the winning of the game.

But, Whiteside’s penchant for chasing every shot attempt means that he doesn’t always impact the team’s defense positively. Sometimes this season, he was the only big on the floor, so rather than be mindful of that and just stay vertical, he would try and swat every shot, leaving an easy layin for an opposition big.

Whiteside is a great shot blocker, but not a great rim protector.

The key thinking that needs to go into whether to bring him back, is if Olshey thinks he can add value off the bench. He struggled with a smaller role in the playoffs this season, and he may not want to be a backup center. Also, Whiteside may think he deserves more than backup money.

I think Whiteside is worth around $6 – $8 million for the Blazers. This may mean he is an overpaid backup, but he can still add value to this team if he decides to accept that offer.