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Whiteside admits Trail Blazers were '2nd option' in free agency

Rob Foldy / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The Miami Heat were pegged as the favorites to re-sign center Hassan Whiteside at the start of free agency, with the 27-year-old meeting with management right at midnight on July 1.

Had a new deal to remain in South Beach not come to fruition, though, Whiteside acknowledges he would have taken his talents to Rip City instead.

"Portland was my second option," Whiteside said prior to Saturday's meeting with the Trail Blazers, according to the Miami Herald's Erik Gundersen. "I would have came here."

The Trail Blazers were originally reported as one of three finalists to acquire Whiteside's services, with the Dallas Mavericks also in the running, although The Vertical's Adrian Wojnarowski later refuted that notion, saying that the 7-footer's attention was focused squarely on Miami and Dallas.

Whiteside eventually inked a four-year deal for $98 million, while Portland turned its attention elsewhere by signing both Evan Turner and Festus Ezeli, as well as re-signing some of its own free agents.

Miami hasn't enjoyed much success with just a 7-12 record, while the Trail Blazers aren't inspiring much confidence either at 10-10. In a season which many experts projected the team to continue its ascension up the Western Conference, head coach Terry Stotts' roster's inability to defend (league-worst 110.4 points per 100 possessions allowed) has prevented that from happening.

Whiteside, however, remains one of the Association's elite rim protectors with 2.4 blocks per game.

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