Portland Trail Blazers: Why Hassan Whiteside is worth the risk
By Ty Delbridge
3. Can start while Jusuf Nurkic is out
One of the more significant questions surrounding the Blazers this summer was what were they going to do at the center spot while Jusuf Nurkic recovers from a fractured leg. Most thought Zach Collins (more of a power forward still), Skal Labissière and Meyers Leonard would take over the role, or that the Blazers would add one of the many available centers on the market.
Well, it is safe to say Olshey took a different approach, answering the question by adding Whiteside to the mix.
Whiteside gives Portland a starting-caliber center to begin the 2019-20 season. The organization can now be patient with Nurkic’s recovery process and not rush him back and risk future issues for the 24-year-old. In his career, Whiteside has played in 343 total games and started in 259 of them.
Even when Nurkic comes back, it’s going to take some time for him to get fully back into the groove. Portland is going to be wanting to make another deep playoff push and can’t afford to wait for him to heal up. Alongside Lillard, McCollum and the rest of the roster, Whiteside keeps the Blazers as serious contenders in the Western Conference.