Boston Celtics: 3 free agent bigs C’s should pursue this summer

Hassan Whiteside

Prior to the start of the 2019-20 season we discussed the idea of the Boston Celtics trading for the 10 year veteran big Hassan Whiteside. To our surprise, it was met with a lot of disdain and disproval.

Frankly, our opinion was barely altered after this and now, after the 61 games he played for the Portland Trailblazers this year, the fact still remains: the C’s could certainly use for someone of Whiteside’s skill set.

Logging 31.3 minutes the center found himself averaging 16.3 points, 14.2 rebounds and 3.1 blocks per game on 62 percent shooting from the field. He ranks second in the league in both total rebounds and offensive rebounds per game and is first by a considerable margin in blocks per game.

At 7-0, 235 pounds Whiteside is an intimidating presence to stick in the paint in a starting unit consisting of a plethora of perimeter players. He could be useful on offense when in the post as well as on the glass. Defensively, he would be the unquestionable enforcer this team is missing down low and would be a perfect counter to the likes of Embiid and Antetokounmpo.

Whiteside may need to sign a one-year deal with a franchise, as he pretty much was seen as a short term contract in Portland, filling in for the injured Jusuf Nurkić, and hasn’t proven he can continue on staying this productive and serviceable for a team (3.2 box plus minus rating) for multiple seasons at a time.

This season, Hassan Whiteside has produced quite well while also staying on his best behavior. Likely finding himself yet again in a similar situation next season, he should wind up producing at a similar rate, and with a similar temperament, in search of one last long term deal beginning in 2021-22.

If he can keep this level of play up, he might be exactly what Boston has been looking for at the pivot spot.