Hassan Whiteside nearly signed with Portland Trail Blazers in the summer

Hassan Whiteside, the Miami Heat centre, nearly joined the Portland Trail Blazers in free agency before returning to South Beach on a five-year, max contract, per reports.

Along with Kevin Durant, Whiteside was the most sought-after free agent during the offseason with teams like Dallas Mavericks, Trail Blazers, Los Angeles Lakers and Heat battling for his services.

Whiteside met with the Heat and the Mavericks before signing a four-year contract worth US$98 million ($AU 132 million) to stay put in Miami. Funny enough, Whiteside never met the Blazers or any other suitors before announcing his decision via social media, contrary to media reports that he was leaning towards Dallas.

On Saturday, Whiteside tallied 28 points, 16 rebounds and 5 blocks during a 99-92 road defeat to Portland. Prior to the game, he revealed that Portland was his No.2 option in free agency. “Portland was my second option. I would have came here," Whiteside said, per the Miami Herald.

Last week, ESPN reported that the Blazers, the team that splurged the most money this offseason, were aggressively "chasing" Whiteside but instead had to settle for former Golden State Warriors centre Festus Ezeli.

Portland were chasing Hassan Whiteside

Besides re-signing C.J. McCollom, Allen Crabbe and Maurice Harkless to long term extensions, the Blazers signed free agent Evan Turner to a four-year, US$70 million (AU$94 million) and Ezeli to a two-year, $US 15 million ($AU 20 million) contract. For the 2017-18 season, the Blazers have committed an NBA record $US137 million ($AU 184 million) in salaries and are expected to emerge as title contenders.

Despite splurging all that money, the Blazers have failed to play to potential, starting the new season with a 11-10 record, a year after finishing as the No.5 seed in the difficult western conference. Besides suffering 10 defeats, the Blazers have given up the most points and currently have the league's worst defensive rating.

There's no doubt that Whiteside, one of the game's pre-eminent rim protectors, would have helped Portland on the defensive end of the floor. With NBA trade season quickly approaching, the rumour mill is buzzing about Portland making a few players available -- with the intent to acquire a reliable big man.

Hassan Whiteside is currently averaging 17.8 points, 14.9 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game.