Woj: Hassan Whiteside for Meyers & Mo

[DusterBuster]

Would have done every thing possible to keep Kanter but this off-season is shaping up pretty nicely... Hood/Little/Bazemore/Whiteside should all be key members of a strong run

Quick straight up called Kanter a dramaqueen. As great as he was in that short stint, I have to wonder if his act wouldn't have wore thin for a full season or two.

Hood apparently told the Blazers he wants back even at the MLE and didn't even bother looking for another contract according to Quick. I think Hood was the right pick of the two for a number of on-the-court reasons, but I like it even more now that it looks like Rodney may be the SF starter.

I really could care less about a random media personalitys opinion vs the eye test, but regardless our starting center is probably the biggest complainer in the game so that seems manageable. Kanter was our X factor many a time in that short stint, I think his loss is under valued.

Dame more/less confirmed Quick's "opinion" about Kanter being a drama queen. He was a big player, but I think the Blazers have the pieces to cover for his loss. I'd much rather have Whitesides defense on the pick and roll vs Kanter's offense 9 times outta 10.

[Wiltside]

Fully expect Hassan to have a strong year for you this season. His time was up in Miami, but with a contract year and rejuvenated with strong guard play...he could be a problem. Low risk, medium/high reward for Portland.

Miami needed to free the role for Adebayo as well as acquire Butler, so it's a win win for us too.

[DusterBuster]

Fully expect Hassan to have a strong year for you this season. His time was up in Miami, but with a contract year and rejuvenated with strong guard play...he could be a problem. Low risk, medium/high reward for Portland.

Miami needed to free the role for Adebayo as well as acquire Butler, so it's a win win for us too.

Yeah, seems like a solid deal for all sides around. I'm also expecting a bounceback year for Whiteside. One top of the strong guard play, I think him having a fresh start and playing with his close friend CJ will really have him hyped up to play.

[Norm2953]

Enes Kanter is who he is which is why he got he didn't get the projected salary ($8-10 Million)
that ESPN listed.

Plenty of backup PF/C out there with only a few teams with any cap space. Likely the team will
take a peek at their summer league team before they venture out into the market for a guy
for the veterans minimum.

[Blazers98]

Great trade. It's all about motivation for Whiteside so hopefully we can get him motivated. IMO with it being a contract year for him and having a fresh start with nobody behind him for the beginning of the year, he should do well. We shall see what happens when Nurk comes back though.

[Sinobas]

Dame more/less confirmed Quick's "opinion" about Kanter being a drama queen. He was a big player, but I think the Blazers have the pieces to cover for his loss. I'd much rather have Whitesides defense on the pick and roll vs Kanter's offense 9 times outta 10.

How did Dame confirm that?

[DusterBuster]

Dame more/less confirmed Quick's "opinion" about Kanter being a drama queen. He was a big player, but I think the Blazers have the pieces to cover for his loss. I'd much rather have Whitesides defense on the pick and roll vs Kanter's offense 9 times outta 10.

How did Dame confirm that?

Twitter

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

[dunlop212]

I have been reading up on Whiteside tonight. Man, are there red flags for this guy. I don't want to judge someone based on Internet posts, or repeat the bad stuff, but it is basically the opposite of what comes up on Bazemore. It could be a really tough challenge for the team culture.

[DusterBuster]

I have been reading up on Whiteside tonight. Man, are there red flags for this guy. I don't want to judge someone based on Internet posts, or repeat the bad stuff, but it is basically the opposite of what comes up on Bazemore. It could be a really tough challenge for the team culture.

Same could have been said about Nurk. Also, CJ and him are really close, I can't imagine McCollum would be really close friends with a major lockerroom cancer type of player.

[Sinobas]

Dame more/less confirmed Quick's "opinion" about Kanter being a drama queen. He was a big player, but I think the Blazers have the pieces to cover for his loss. I'd much rather have Whitesides defense on the pick and roll vs Kanter's offense 9 times outta 10.

How did Dame confirm that?

Twitter

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

Huh? How do those tweets relate to Kanter being a drama queen?

[DusterBuster]

How did Dame confirm that?

Twitter

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

Huh? How do those tweets relate to Kanter being a drama queen?

He's not coming out and saying it flatly, but he's clearly calling out Kanter for exaggerating to the extreme and Dame doesn't call out people - particularly teammates - lightly.

[zzaj]

Pretty interesting for Portland...they traded the "consistent roster" model for an upgrade in talent. Hard to argue that the former didn't work, as I think it's safe to say that the team has exceeded expectations every season since Aldridge left. Will be interesting to see how such a big roster turnover will effect things.

Assuming Nurkic comes back to full strength eventually, the Blazers will have arguably the best Center 1, 2 punch on the defensive side of the ball in the entire NBA.

I don't think people realize exactly how great of a defender Whiteside is. Some highlights? He led the league in Defensive Rebound % and Defensive Rating, was #2 in Block %, and was 12th in Defensive Win Shares...and this was in a down year.

It will be interesting to see as well if this changes Stotts' approach to the offense and defense slightly.

With the additions of Whiteside, Bazemore, the return of Hood with the possibility of an expanded role and tracking the improvements of Simons and Collins, I'm genuinely excited for the upcoming season!

[Blazer50]

I don't read any animosity towards Enes Kanter - Dame's supporting his team and Olshey but he also backs Enes - who had 45 minutes - which wasn't a long time - but not a 6 minute ultimatum as it came across. I think Dame appreciated Enes; and Kanter's statement about the organization belies there being problems.

The real interest surrounding this move - which is terrific for all the reasons noted previously - will be how the Blazers "culture" and Damian's inclusive leadership skills work for Whiteside. I believe the chemistry and between Dame, Stott's and the other guys will be the basis of Whiteside having a career year (contract year or not). One issue may develop in Nurk's reaction to whatever chemistry Dame develops with Hassan. Great Job in Neil using the cap space created in the 2016 signings and leaving the door opened to big future moves (as needed).

[DusterBuster]

I don't read any animosity towards Enes Kanter - Dame's supporting his team and Olshey but he also backs Enes - who had 45 minutes - which wasn't a long time - but not a 6 minute ultimatum as it came across. I think Dame appreciated Enes; and Kanter's statement about the organization belies there being problems.

The real interest surrounding this move - which is terrific for all the reasons noted previously - will be how the Blazers "culture" and Damian's inclusive leadership skills work for Whiteside. I believe the chemistry and between Dame, Stott's and the other guys will be the basis of Whiteside having a career year (contract year or not). One issue may develop in Nurk's reaction to whatever chemistry Dame develops with Hassan. Great Job in Neil using the cap space created in the 2016 signings and leaving the door opened to big future moves (as needed).

No one said there was animosity, Dame was just telling the truth to cut through Enes' exaggerated version of the truth.

[DusterBuster]

Pretty interesting for Portland...they traded the "consistent roster" model for an upgrade in talent. Hard to argue that the former didn't work, as I think it's safe to say that the team has exceeded expectations every season since Aldridge left. Will be interesting to see how such a big roster turnover will effect things.

Assuming Nurkic comes back to full strength eventually, the Blazers will have arguably the best Center 1, 2 punch on the defensive side of the ball in the entire NBA.

I don't think people realize exactly how great of a defender Whiteside is. Some highlights? He led the league in Defensive Rebound % and Defensive Rating, was #2 in Block %, and was 12th in Defensive Win Shares...and this was in a down year.

It will be interesting to see as well if this changes Stotts' approach to the offense and defense slightly.

With the additions of Whiteside, Bazemore, the return of Hood with the possibility of an expanded role and tracking the improvements of Simons and Collins, I'm genuinely excited for the upcoming season!

Totally agree. I think it's just so exciting to finally have something new in Portland after the past 3 or 4 years of basically having the same rotation. Outside of Nurk, the starting 5 has remained largely the same since LMA left.

[HoopsFanAZ]

Olshey and the team traded away likable players — ET, Mo, and Meyers — at long last. They contributed, but not enough or consisently so. We won’t know about Whiteside and Bazemore (or Hezonja or Little or Simons in the rotation or Collins as a starter ... ), but only 2 days into free agency — I’m hopeful no matter what any other team does.

[Shem]

I have been reading up on Whiteside tonight. Man, are there red flags for this guy. I don't want to judge someone based on Internet posts, or repeat the bad stuff, but it is basically the opposite of what comes up on Bazemore. It could be a really tough challenge for the team culture.

Keep in my that this is Dame's team. And he controls the culture. There have been countless stories leaked where he put an end to locker room drama before it got out of hand. And if needed, Dame will put Whiteside in his place.

[DusterBuster]

I'm hopeful for Whiteside having a really strong year simply because I really believe the Blazers roster fits him so much better than any roster the Heat had with him on it. They never had shooters around him, it was always a ton of slasher so defenses could clog the paint and make it difficult for him to do anything.

Portland can treat Whiteside like Orlando era Dwight and go 4 out and 1 in offensively (but not running the offense through him like ORL did), so there's gonna be a ton more spacing for him to do his thing.

[DusterBuster]

I have been reading up on Whiteside tonight. Man, are there red flags for this guy. I don't want to judge someone based on Internet posts, or repeat the bad stuff, but it is basically the opposite of what comes up on Bazemore. It could be a really tough challenge for the team culture.

Keep in my that this is Dame's team. And he controls the culture. There have been countless stories leaked where he put an end to locker room drama before it got out of hand. And if needed, Dame will put Whiteside in his place.

Worst (best?) case scenario, he's an expiring contract who gets traded at the deadline.

[Showdown]

Quick straight up called Kanter a dramaqueen. As great as he was in that short stint, I have to wonder if his act wouldn't have wore thin for a full season or two.

Hood apparently told the Blazers he wants back even at the MLE and didn't even bother looking for another contract according to Quick. I think Hood was the right pick of the two for a number of on-the-court reasons, but I like it even more now that it looks like Rodney may be the SF starter.

I really could care less about a random media personalitys opinion vs the eye test, but regardless our starting center is probably the biggest complainer in the game so that seems manageable. Kanter was our X factor many a time in that short stint, I think his loss is under valued.

Dame more/less confirmed Quick's "opinion" about Kanter being a drama queen. He was a big player, but I think the Blazers have the pieces to cover for his loss. I'd much rather have Whitesides defense on the pick and roll vs Kanter's offense 9 times outta 10.

Whiteside can be good rim protector but he is bad at pick and roll defense, he was benched in the PO because of that . Also i think that Kanter as cancer on the team vs Whiteside as a cancer on the team are different levels because Kanter is a weird guy so it can be bad in some situations while Whiteside look like classic low IQ huge ego athletic player that cares about his stats type of guy so if things go south with him it could destroy culture that Blazers built. Wade on Bulls/Cavs and Butler on Bulls/Minnesota type of bad. I know that Lillard, CJ, Stotts and Olshley are stil here but big factor why Blazers had good chemistry was that you had lot of nice guys willing to sacrifice for the team that played together for a long time so relations were well established so it was easy to asimiliate new players . Right now after Lillard and CJ only Nurkic, Collins and Layman played more than a year for Blazers .