NBA Free Agency 2016: 5 worst fits for Hassan Whiteside

2. New York Knicks

After being a joke of a franchise for a long time, the New York Knicks look like they’re starting to get things back on track. One player that emerged during last year’s forgettable season was Kristaps Porzingis, and now they’ve given new coach Jeff Hornacek a “Big Three” with him, Carmelo Anthony, and Derrick Rose.

They gave up Robin Lopez in that Rose deal, and unless they’re comfortable with Kyle O’Quinn as their starting center, they’re going to go after a big in free agency. Hassan Whiteside might seem like a good fit, especially since he’s expressed his love of playing in Madison Square Garden, but his ego might be too much for Carmelo Anthony to handle.

Just like Whiteside, Melo is a talented player but isn’t a big advocate of playing team basketball. He’s averaged a total of 1300 shot attempts per season, even though 2013-14 was the first season that he didn’t make the playoffs. Even when Kristaps Porzingis emerged in New York and his chemistry with Carmelo was well documented, the consensus among fans was that the Porzingis era would not coincide with the Anthony era in New York.

Porzingis showed flashes of brilliance last season, but he won’t be able to thrive with a player who passes up the opportunity to feed someone open in favor of a contested shot. If people think he’s bad for the development of one of the most humble players in the league, it’ll only get worse with Hassan Whiteside, another up-and-coming talent but one who has developed a real sense of arrogance.

He likes to showboat when he throws down dunks, and Melo was a first-hand recipient of one of those:

Suggesting that these two will get along after that is a fool’s errand.

Next: 1. Los Angeles Lakers