The NBA trade deadline has passed and Hassan Whiteside is still a member of the Portland Trail Blazers.

Some expected Whiteside and his $27 million expiring contract to be shipped out for future assets, but Portland held onto him.

When the Blazers traded for Whiteside this past offseason, they inherited his bird rights which allow him them to re-sign him over the cap as long as his $40 million cap hold isn't relinquished. The starting center is averaging 15.8 points per game and is third in the NBA in rebounding (13.9) and first in blocks (3.1).

But, at some point, Jusuf Nurkic is going to come back and step into the starting role once again.

It creates an interesting situation for Whiteside and the Trail Blazers. Would Whiteside consider returning knowing he'd be a back-up?

Following the NBA trade deadline, NBC Sports Northwest Blazers Insider Dwight Jaynes joined The Brain Noe Show and gave his pitch he'd give to Whiteside if he was Portland's front office:

His minutes would decrease a little bit and here's how I would approach that if I were the Blazers front office. ...I would go to him and say 'First of all, we're going to pay you. You are not going to get what you were getting but you'll get as good as you can get if you leave, okay. Second of all, we're going to be really good and this is your chance to win. You can win big here. The other thing would be, we know how to get the most out of you and you're gonna get it. Now you may only play 24-25 minutes per game but they're going to be the best 24 or 25 minutes you've ever played. You're going to play with Dame who knows how to use you, who knows how to put you in situations where you're gonna score. You're gonna block shots. We're gonna use you and you'll be playing behind a guy that does occasinally get hurt, might need load management. Might have to sit out once in awhile, so we're going to get you your minutes. And oh by the way you love Portland! You got a house here now. You're making additions to your house. I can't wait until you see summer here, you're gonna love it. And this town loves you. Why not stay? What else is out there for you better than this?'

Due to owning his bird rights, the Blazers can match any offer Whiteside receives if he wants to return to Portland. They don't have his restricted rights but the Blazers won't be outbid for Whiteside due to cap restrictions.

You can watch Jaynes' full pitch in the clip below.

The pitch to bring Whiteside back in a different role



"You may only play 24 minutes, but they're going to be the best you've ever played." pic.twitter.com/OpOiiDI0Fp



— NBC Sports Northwest (@NBCSNorthwest) February 6, 2020

Pitching Hassan Whiteside re-signing with Trail Blazers in back-up role originally appeared on NBC Sports Northwest