The Miami HEAT have been one of the biggest players this free agency, wheeling and dealing players to bring in Jimmy Butler to South Beach.
After losing Jusuf Nurkic to a leg injury right before the playoffs last season, the Portland Trail Blazers have traded for Hassan Whiteside. In exchange, the Blazers will send Mo Harkless and Meyers Leonard to the HEAT.
Miami is finalizing a trade to send center Hassan Whiteside to Portland for Mo Harkless and Meyers Leonard, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2019
Portland gets a starting caliber center on an expiring deal as it awaits Jusuf Nurkic's return from a serious leg injury. Blazers offseason: Whiteside, Kent Bazemore, retain Rodney Hood and draft Nassir Little. Another Western contender loading up.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2019
Whiteside thread: Meyers Leonard and Maurice Harkless have combined '19-'20 salary of $22.8 million
Whiteside's salary is $27.1M, less than 125% of outgoing salary. Blazers can absorb Whiteside without including other players
Raises payroll (roughly) from $135.8M to $140.1M. /1
— Eric Griffith (@EricG_NBA) July 1, 2019
Whiteside should give Portland some interior presence for a bulk of the season, as they await Nurkic’s return, in hopes he plays to potential (considering his contract is expiring and wants a big deal in summer of 2020) and can hold down the paint with blocks and defense, while still having a solid role on offense. This is something that he didn’t get much with the HEAT the past few seasons.
Hassan Whiteside is READY to play with CJ & Dame in Portland. 🤣
(via @youngwhiteside) pic.twitter.com/2p39j8uf8Q
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) July 1, 2019
Though the Blazers have not been a big player in free agency, they’ve been making some sneaky moves to strengthen the squad. They traded for Kent Bazemore, brought back Rodney Hood and drafted Nassir Little.
Meanwhile, Miami is still waiting for a trade partner for Goran Dragic to finalize the Butler deal.