NBA Trade Rumors: 5 destinations for Hassan Whiteside

Brooklyn Nets

This is probably the trade idea with the biggest ramifications going forward. Everyone knows the Brooklyn Nets are at the depths of the NBA and more than most they’re in need of restructuring their core and going in a different direction. Joe Johnson’s monstrous $24.8 million salary has been weighing them down, Jarrett Jack has been injured, their bench is bare to say the least, and Deron Williams has left and is enjoying a replenished season with the Dallas Mavericks.

Besides having the third worst record in the NBA at 12-34, they could benefit from a rebuild. So, while it may seem strange to suggest that they should trade their best player Brook Lopez, it could help them long-term to add some athleticism and a new defensive presence. Quite frankly, they need to try shaking things up, and there’s no doubt that they’ll hope to be active in free agency.

So, the final suggestion here involves an exchange of centers. For Whiteside, Luol Deng and Chris Andersen, the Nets send Brook Lopez to Miami.

Lopez is one of the top scoring centers in the NBA, and with 19.8 points per game this season, a great hook shoot, good footwork and good range (44.2 percent from 16 feet) he could form a dynamic scoring duo with Bosh to carry the Heat’s offense. He clearly brings far more in this department than Whiteside, and while Lopez isn’t an elite defender and he’s out of his comfort zone anywhere far from the paint (Bosh can help deal with this), he’s still a presence at the rim.

Besides his 1.9 blocks per game, he’s also forcing opponents to shoot 9.7 percent lower than normal within six feet of the basket and even 8.8 percent lower within 10 feet (per NBA.com). Even though he’s not the best defender and he won’t be tallying triple-doubles with blocks like Whiteside, Lopez is still surprisingly effective in the paint.

As for the Nets, they simply get to start changing the dynamic of their struggling team and add Whiteside as the building block to help their 25th ranked defense. They’ll have money to offer him to re-sign and hopefully the chance to pursue others in free agency.

This trade does have some flaws, though.

If the Nets need to offer Whiteside max money, losing Lopez’s $21 million salary for 2016-17 doesn’t make much difference. Also, for the Heat, acquiring another big contract hurts them for free agency, which is why the Boston or Charlotte deals proposed here are better options going forward.

Again, it needs to be iterated that this isn’t a trade suggestion to say that Lopez is better than Whiteside or that the Heat need to desperately pursue a deal. He may be a far better scorer, but if Whiteside can start maintaining constant effort and intensity, his upside is still so high.

With his future, it all comes down to those in the Heat organization and whether they think he’ll leave in free agency. They have minimal flexibility with Wade’s salary or the pursuit of other free agents if they try to keep Whiteside on a max, so if they think he could leave, a trade should be in the back of their minds.

At least with Brooklyn they still land one of the NBA’s top centers in return.