Hassan Whiteside
The Warriors need to stay as far away as possible from Hassan Whiteside.
Hassan Whiteside has probably been one of the most polarizing figures in basketball over the last two years.
It’s hard to explain how a 7 foot tall center, who spends two years in the NBA then spends two years out of the league, can somehow break out in his mid-twenties. Whiteside spent time in the D-League, holding onto his NBA dream by a hair. And it has finally worked out for him.
Whiteside averaged 14.2 points and 11.8 points, while leading the league in blocks, swatting away 3.7 shots away per game. He became a nightly triple-double threat for a Miami Heat team that looked like it could have been one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference.
Guys that big that put up those numbers don’t just grow on trees. The Warriors are looking for a center, but this isn’t one they should throw their money at.
When he re-entered the league, Whiteside said he was just trying to get his 2K rating up. At this point, he’s trying to get his net worth up. He’s in for a huge pay day as he enters what should be the prime of his career. In a league with few dominant big men, Whiteside is going to command a lot.
But even more so than Biyombo, there are questions surrounding Whiteside. His basketball IQ leaves a lot to be desired and his focus sometimes seems to be locked in on himself rather than the collective, something that opposes everything that Golden State stands for. This could be an Andrew Bynum-esque case where once the deal is signed, the player checks out even before the ink dries.
Whiteside is a poor passer and Steve Kerr likes to use his big men as facilitators. He’s also an overrated defender whose block numbers hide his deficiencies on that end. If he’s not blocking a shot, he’s not really changing shots. He also gives up rebounds because he tries to block un-blockable shots. His pick-and-roll defense is unreliable which is dangerous in a league that thrives off of it.
Whiteside is a 27 year old. He’s not particularly young for the stage of his career that he’s in. He’s not where he should be mentally, in terms of understanding the game and having a feel for it. The Warriors don’t have the time to hope that he figures it out. There’s also that whole chemistry, pesky Draymond Green beef from last year.
He’s probably the riskiest free agent and if I were a gambling man, I’d say the contract that he signs will probably be looked back at as the worst.
Next: Familiar face