Hassan Whiteside is looking forward to the opportunity of a new beginning with the Portland Trail Blazers after getting traded by the Miami Heat, according to Shandel Richardson of The Athletic.

The Heat have been trying to trade Whiteside for the past two summers. Whiteside was also looking for a fresh start somewhere. Both sides got their wish. The Blazers are hoping Whiteside can recapture his 2016-17 form when he averaged 17.0 points and 14.1 rebounds.

A source close to Whiteside said he is looking forward to the opportunity of a new beginning.

“It happened,” the source said. “I mean, it was just one of those things. It’s a business. He had to accept what was thrown at him. He liked Miami and what Miami did for him.”

This past season, Hassan Whiteside put up 12.3 points and 11.3 rebounds while shooting 57.1 percent from the field. He recorded 36 double-doubles, but was a negative on the defensive end of the floor. The Blazers will likely start the big man at center until Jusuf Nurkic is able to play again.

Whiteside won’t be getting double-teamed in Portland since guards Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum are elite 3-point shooters. If Whiteside can score efficiently and rebound for the Blazers, this could be a good move for Portland even though Whiteside is very mercurial.

Whiteside has one-year left on his deal. He'll make $27 million next season.