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Boston Celtics: Trade Targets Who’d Help Attract Kevin Durant

By Maxwell Ogden

May 2, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder small forward Kevin Durant (35) shoots the ball against the San Antonio Spurs in game two of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
May 2, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder small forward Kevin Durant (35) shoots the ball against the San Antonio Spurs in game two of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 27, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (21) reacts after getting for a foul during the second half against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 27, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (21) reacts after getting for a foul during the second half against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /

Hassan Whiteside, Miami Heat

Position: Center
Age: 26
Salary: Unrestricted Free Agent
Slash Line: .606/.000/.650
Season Averages: 29.1 MPG, 14.2 PPG, 11.8 RPG, 3.3 ORPG, 3.7 BPG

Hassan Whiteside, like Al Horford, will be an unrestricted free agent during the summer of 2016. Like Horford, however, Whiteside projects to command a massive salary that would limit Boston’s ability to go after Kevin Durant.

If a sign-and-trade were to be executed to acquire Whiteside’s services, however, the Celtics would appropriately address the need for a dominant rim protector.

Whiteside, who posted a defensive field goal percentage at the rim of .469, was the runaway leader in blocks per game during the 2015-16 NBA regular season. DeAndre Jordan finished the year at No. 2 with an impressive 2.30 blocks per contest, but Whiteside checked in at a distant 3.68.

In turn, Whiteside became the first player to average at least 3.7 blocks per game since Theo Ratliff in 2000-01—a season during which he played just 50 games—and Alonzo Mourning in 1999-2000.

Boston, meanwhile, checked in at No. 23 in opponent field goal percentage at the rim. Thus, adding Whiteside would give Boston what it currently lacks, and what it’s had for a vast majority of its 17 championship runs: an imposing interior presence to protect the rim.

Offensively, it certainly doesn’t hurt that the 6’11.5″ big man with a 7’7″ wingspan can score from the post and has a quietly effective midrange jump shot.

More hoops habit: Can the next Hassan Whiteside be found in the 2016 NBA Draft?

If Brad Stevens can tap into Whiteside’s full potential on both ends of the floor, Boston could make serious strides towards returning to the glory days of being a dominant two-way team.

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