The Sacramento Kings are reportedly interested in signing center Hassan Whiteside in free agency, per Brian Windhorst of ESPN (h/t Real GM).
The Blazers traded for Enes Kanter from the Boston Celtics on Friday, so Whiteside may not have a place in Portland anymore since the team has Jusuf Nurkic as the starting center.
Kings Interested In Hassan Whiteside https://t.co/kkDWHT6zkQ
— RealGM (@RealGM) November 20, 2020
Hassan Whiteside began his NBA career with the Kings as the 33rd overall pick in the 2010 draft. With the Blazers in 2019-20, the 31-year-old averaged 15.5 points and 13.5 rebounds per game while shooting 62.1 percent from the field and 68.6 percent from the free-throw line.
In 410 NBA games with the Kings, Miami Heat and Blazers, Whiteside has compiled averages of 13.7 points and 11.7 rebounds. He's one of the best shot-blockers in the NBA and a viable option on offense, so he should garner some interest on the open market.
The Kings have the longest playoff drought in the NBA. The franchise hasn't made the playoffs since all the way back in 2006. Sacramento recently made the monumental mistake of drafting Marvin Bagley III over Luka Doncic in the 2018 draft, with Doncic quickly becoming a superstar with the Dallas Mavericks, while Bagley III continues to struggle with injuries.
It's going to be interesting to see if the Kings and Whiteside reunite in free agency, but it looks the veteran is not going back to the Blazers after the Kanter trade.
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