3. Sacramento Kings
This move is entirely feasible, which is hard to say given Hassan Whiteside’s low and hard-to-work-with salary. In this scenario, the Miami Heat would package Luol Deng, Whiteside, and Josh McRoberts’ unfavorable contract in a package for Rudy Gay and some combination of additional assets.
That could include Ben McLemore, a shooter with upside, and/or Willie Cauley-Stein, who’s a rookie big man with the upside to be a defensive anchor.
For Sacramento, acquiring Whiteside would be the move that justifies the rush of minutes DeMarcus Cousins has received at power forward. Whiteside is a dominant rim protector who would alleviate a great deal of pressure from Cousins on that end of the floor.
The question is, could the combustible elements known as Cousins, Whiteside, Rajon Rondo and head coach George Karl coexist?
If the Kings found a way to make it work, they’d immediately go from the NBA’s worst scoring defense to one of its best. Rondo is a masterful defender when focused, Whiteside is the most dominant shot-blocker in the Association, and Cousins is no slouch himself.
With Cauley-Stein and Gay under contract, that duo could be what Miami is searching for as it looks to right its regular season woes and build for the future.
Next: A Second Chance?