Kings sign Hassan Whiteside from the Trail Blazers

Hassan Whiteside (Wikimedia Commons)

According to Tyler Conway of Bleacher Report on Wednesday, the Sacramento Kings have signed underrated center Hassan Whiteside of Gastonia, North Carolina, to a one year contract worth $2.32 million. Whiteside actually returns to the Kings, as he was drafted by Sacramento in the second round in 2010, before playing two seasons with the Kings in 2010-11, and 2011-12.

Whiteside then went on to play two seasons in Lebanon and China, before returning to the National Basketball Association for the 2014-15 season. He would play the next five seasons with the Miami Heat, before being traded to the Portland Trail Blazers, where he played in 2019-20.

Last season with the Trail Blazers, Whiteside was exceptional. He averaged 15.5 points per game, 13.5 rebounds per game, and led the NBA with 2.8 blocks per game. Whiteside also had a field goal percentage of .621, three-point percentage of .571, and a free throw percentage of .686. His low free throw percentage is possibly a reason why Whiteside is only making the NBA’s league minimum during the 2020-21 season.

In 2019-20, Whiteside was not only known for his blocking (led the NBA with 196 blocks), but offensive rebounding as well. He also led the NBA with 258 offensive rebounds this past season.

While with the Heat, Whiteside led the NBA with 3.7 blocks per game and 269 total blocks during the 2015-16 season. He then led the NBA with 14.1 rebounds per game in the 2016-17.

Whiteside is currently slated to be the starting center this season for the Kings. He is expected to be in a starting five that will also include De’Andre Fox, Buddy Hield, Marvin Bagley, and Harrison Barnes. Anyway you look at it, Kings General Manager Monte McNair needs to be highly praised for acquiring a player with the talent of Whiteside for only $2.32 million.

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