Portland Trail Blazers: Complete grades for the 2019 NBA offseason
By Finn Carlson
Hassan Whiteside trade
The reason why the Hassan Whiteside trade is valuable for the Portland Trail Blazers is because it’s a simple low-risk, high-reward gamble. Whiteside has an expiring contract and Portland gave up two expendable assets in Maurice Harkless and Meyers Leonard for Whiteside.
And while Whiteside is a consistent double-double machine and rim protector, his role on the team will be primarily replacing Jusuf Nurkic while he is injured.
Nobody expects Whiteside to come into the system and become All-NBA first team. He is a replacement starter at center and could potentially be a valuable trade asset or even an asset for the future depending on his performance next season.
Though, it is hard to not be excited to have a former NBA leader in blocks and rebounding come to play.
Whiteside provides a phenomenal replacement for Nurkic for the price that was paid for him. Whiteside has proven that he is an elite defender and rebounder, and to get him in Portland at a depleted position is a great roster move.
Whiteside also seems excited to be in Portland based on his reactions on social media.
And with the help of Damian Lillard’s leadership, Whiteside should find himself in a starting position with a franchise that truly believes in him. He will have nowhere to go but up and nothing to do but succeed.