Charlotte Hornets: Hassan Whiteside is a must for playoff run

After the Charlotte Hornets made amazing draft selections and a big free-agent pickup, the team needs one more weapon to make a deep playoff run, Hasson Whiteside is that weapon.

The Charlotte Hornets had an absolutely amazing draft day picking up positional needs with unknown ceilings. Rookie sensation LaMelo Ball joins the team after playing overseas, the organization also ACC standout Vernon Carey Jr.

After a surprising, yet bitter-sweet Gordon Hayward pickup this offseason. Firstly, I’d like to say the Hornets are lucky to have picked Hayward up. When I say this you have to remember, the Hornets won’t attract any bigger stars this next summer despite having a “stacked” free agency. I’m here to tell you that Swarm City will not pick up any better free agents until the basketball culture in Charlotte grows tremendously.

Now, even though the Hornets definitely overbid on picking up Hayward, this year’s team will still be the best team to step onto the Spectrum Center in a long time.

But the franchise can make one more offseason move to solidify the Hornets as a mid-Eastern conference seed. The Hornets can for sure make the seventh or eighth seeds with Hayward on the stacked starting lineup.

Hassan Whiteside will propel the team into serious playoff contention

Hassan Whiteside is definitely the best player still available on the market and is a solid starting center. Whiteside was one of the best centers’ in the league in Miami before moving to Portland last season. Whiteside is a great talent and fills an immediate need for the Hornets, a solid starting big man.

Cody Zeller is a solid roleplaying big man and Vernon Carey Jr. is just a promising rookie so to make a push into the playoffs, the team needs a dominant center. Whiteside brings so many skills to the floor on both sides of the ball.

Whiteside has always been a huge part of any team’s defense. Whiteside averaged about three blocks per game last year, making him one of the most underappreciated rim protectors in the league. Whiteside actually led the league in blocks and block percentages which makes driving on him, a mistake. Whiteside also ranked third in the NBA in defensive rebounding, with over nine boards per game last season.

Whiteside is also a huge threat on offense as well. Whiteside is a bruiser and is punishing in the paint, with over 15 points per game. Whiteside also shot 62 percent from the field, which puts him at seventh in the NBA for shooting percentages. Whiteside can also be sturdy on the pick-and-roll and that may foster some development for LaMelo Ball, who specializes in playmaking. I would also like to note that last season was Whiteside’s first season trying to shoot from the perimeter, making 57 percent from behind the arch showing that he will be able to stretch the floor, make the Hornets deadly from three-point land.

Picking up Hassan Whiteside is the final piece for the Charlotte Hornets to make a serious deep push into the playoffs. With a stacked Eastern Conference, the Charlotte Hornets can actually upset and surprise competitors with a great two-way starting lineup.