Toronto Raptors: 3 free agent centers Khem Birch would be better than
By Mike Luciano
2. Hassan Whiteside, Sacramento Kings
Whiteside is a very good test that you can use to figure out how much you watch the NBA. While some fans might be excited by his double-doubles and high block numbers, Kings fans and those who watch the league with a more critical eye can see why someone who put up some elite numbers in Portland signed a cheap one-year deal as a backup in Sacramento this year.
Whiteside was a double-double machine and master shot-blocker with the Trail Blazers and Miami Heat, but his last year in Sacramento was an egregious mistake, as he barely saw playing time despite Sacramento crying out for a center that could provide stability.
Hassan Whiteside’s production is fool’s gold, meaning Khem Birch is better.
On the offensive side, Whiteside is a complete non-factor outside of the paint, and while Birch can’t exactly be called the second coming of Kevin Durant when looking at the offensive potential he brings to the table, but he can at least provide more than Whiteside will.
Whiteside is best served playing somewhere with no expectation of making the postseason. Doing so could give him a shot to show if he has truly improved in that regard. Birch, meanwhile, would return to a Raptors team that needs someone with his exact skillset while saving the ream a pretty penny.