Miami Heat's Hassan Whiteside is hitting the trade rumors nowadays. After being dragged to numerous trade deals as of late, new reports are spreading that he is being targeted by the Portland Trail Blazers and could be heading his way to Rip City before the trade deadline.
The Heat is currently struggling in the ongoing season and many believed that they won't make it to the playoffs if they won't shake up their roster. Whiteside who is leading the team in points (16.8), rebounds (14.9) and blocks (2.5) per game is said to be not spared to being traded.
On the other hand, the Trail Blazers are also in an up and down situation. They will win a game today and lose the next two or three games. They are not known to be inconsistent and many say that lacking a defensive presence inside the paint is the reason behind their early stumbles.
Now, rumors are emerging that the Trail Blazers are interested in adding Whiteside in their roster to have a defensive presence in the middle. According to All U Can Heat, Trail Blazers general manager Neil Olshey have been chasing Whiteside in the free agency because of his enthusiasm of old-school low-post guy just like Hassan.
It is uncertain that the Trail Blazers will give up C.J. McCollum as the team is primed to build the team around him and Damian Lillard to carry the team in the future. Instead, the Portland Trail Blazers is offering a package of Meyers Leonard, Moe Harkless, Mason Plumlee and two first-round draft picks to the Miami Heat for Hassan Whiteside.
Leonard (24), Harkless (26) and Plumlee (23) are young players that can be used by the Heat if they want for a rebuild. The two first-round draft picks is also a big plus for them that can a big steal during draft night. But will Heat president Pat Riley ready to release Whiteside to the Trail Blazers?
According to Amico Hoops, if the trade deal with the Heat doesn't work, the Trail Blazers is also looking to Nets' Brook Lopez, Bucks' Greg Monroe and Magic's Nikola Vucevic as other possible players for acquisition. The Trail Blazers can't afford to play small and they will be dominated in the low post by other teams most especially in the defensive rebounding as per stated in the report.
Will the Miami Heat release Hassan Whiteside and head his way to the Portland Trail Blazers before the trade deadline?
