NBA Trade Rumors: Portland Trail Blazers Could Possibly Ship Starting Big Man

Hassan Whiteside made his mark in the league as a prominent defensive big man. The second-round pick initially struggled with minutes and bounced around teams. And these teams weren’t NBA rosters – they were international and G-League squads. He has had stints with Lebanon, China, and moved around multiple developmental teams in the NBA.

His journey took a massive leap when the Miami Heat took a chance on the seven-footer in the 2014-2015 NBA season. He rose as one of the best paint defenders in the league where he was averaging close to more than 2 blocks per game. It was in the 2015-2016 season where he led the league in blocks with 3.7 a game.

The 30-year-old was traded last year in a four-team deal that included sending All-Star Jimmy Butler to the Miami Heat. He was shipped from the Miami Heat despite averaging a double double due to his declined usage.

Now as a member of the Portland Trail Blazers, Hassan Whiteside has been contributing significant numbers. He’s tallying 15.6 points per game accompanied by 14 rebounds and 3 blocks per outing. He is also recording a career-best of 73.9% from the free-throw line.

With his stellar performance with the Portland Trail Blazers, the organization was still reportedly open to the possibility of trading their starting big man. According to Jason Quick of the Athletic by way of Clutchpoints, the center’s chances of being shipped are 50/50.

The team's roster could also play a role in this decision. While there is no firm target return date for injured big man Jusuf Nurkic, he has already made big strides in his rehabilitation. He was already seen attending full practice sessions last week as he makes his way for his debut. This could have a potential impact in the frontcourt for the Portland Trail Blazers.

A trade could mix up the team a bit with Hassan Whiteside carrying a $27.1 million expiring contract. The Portland Trail Blazers are currently fighting for a playoff seed as they are seated at 10th place in the Western Conference. They are at 20 wins and 27 losses with the San Antonio Spurs in front with 20 wins and 26 losses.