Hassan Whiteside
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNi0pi5pwK4
Age: 26 years old Size: 7-foot, 265 pounds
Career Stats: 11.6 points; 9.9 rebounds; 3.7 blocks per game
2015-16 stats: 14.2 points; 11.8 rebounds; 3.7 blocks per game
Hassan Whiteside made himself quite the pretty penny by following up his breakout season last year with an even larger 2016 season, but he’s still a bit of an unknown commodity.
He only played 111 minutes his first two seasons and averaged 1.5 points and 2.1 rebounds. Then, after a few different D-League stints and time with teams in China and Lebanon, Whiteside ended up in the hands of Pat Reilly. His past two seasons he has played a combined 3267 minutes and is averaging 13.3 points and 11.1 rebounds with a staggering 3.2 blocks per game.
Once Whiteside became a member of the Miami Heat everything changed. All of his potential suddenly came to the surface and the Hassan Whiteside of the past two NBA seasons had arrived. He is now a constant contender for defensive player of the year and has anchored a Miami Heat defense that was ranked seventh in defensive efficiency. Whiteside led the league with 3.7 blocks per game, averaging 1.4 blocks more per game than DeAndre Jordan, who is second in the league. Whiteside is, simply put, dominant protecting the rim.
When it comes to his fit with the Nuggets there is no less likely fit in the league. Whiteside’s issues with his character do not fit with Malone’s philosophy in Denver. Adding in the fact he is most likely going to get offered a max contract does not help either. I highly doubt the Nuggets are gearing up to offer $21 million a year to a player who has had knee issues and only has had two solid seasons in the NBA, especially with Jusuf Nurkic and Nikola Jokic in the fold.
