Welp he wants to stay. Or at least that’s what he says in Quicks latest article. Says he wants to “be on a team for a long time” and thinks he can coexist with Nurk.
https://theathletic.com/1577873/202...s-on-the-trade-deadline-the-blazers-are-back/
I asked if he thinks he and Nurkic can co-exist?
“I think we could, I definitely think we could, because the way we play, it’s not like the 4-man is shooting a ton of 3s,” Whiteside said. “Melo, he don’t really shoot a ton of 3s … he’s mostly posting up and in the lane 2s …”
Hold on, I said. What does a four-man have to do with you and Nurkic? You think you two would play together?
“Yeah. I don’t see why not,” Whiteside said. “I mean 77 (double pick-and-rolls) … I don’t see why not. I think it could work. Me and Skal (Labissiere) played together … I think in Stotts’ system it don’t even matter. He likes having two bigs anyway.”
Yeah, but Stotts always says it matters what position a player can guard. I don’t see Nurk guarding fours, I told him.
“Then I would defend the four,” he said, bringing up Philadelphia using two bigs. “You seen Ingles and what he tried to do tonight …”