Hassan Whiteside may no longer be beefing with Joel Embiid, but he does have a few unresolved concerns as the trade deadline in the NBA approaches. In his sixth season, the Miami Heat big has averaged 14.1 points and 11.7 rebounds per game.
Whiteside is paid like a star in Miami, and the 28 year old’s talent is unmistakable, but rumors have dogged him this year that Miami may be looking elsewhere at center. That’s been especially true given the emergence of rookie Bam Adebayo and a strong season at center for former Celtic Kelly Olynyk.
But trading away Whiteside and his $25 million contract (and $27 million player option in 2019-20) is harder than it may appear. Though Whiteside’s minutes have reduced this season, he’s still performed well. He is the highest paid member of the Heat, though, and the franchise may be looking for replacements.
The problem is, according to the Sporting News‘ Sean Deveny, it seems unlikely that Miami will get what they’re looking for.
At this time of year, that will automatically get a guy like Whiteside included in the daily trade rumor mill. But league sources tell Sporting News that a move involving Whiteside would be a long shot, because for all the frustration he gives to Spoelstra, the Heat know how valuable he has been to their rise as a defensive force in the East, which has moved them into contention for one of the top three seeds in the conference.
Though Whiteside would have a market, especially from teams looking to improve immediately up front, Miami also wants to get a forward to replace Whiteside in its rotation.
“My sense is, the only way they would move him is if they could get an upgrade at the same position,” an anynomous league executive told Deveny in the report. “They’re trying to get better in the short term, but they’re not out there trying to give Hassan away.”
The Cavaliers could be a trade option, although Deveny reported that Pat Reilly actually sees an opportunity to win with Whiteside in the lineup and LeBron and the Cavs reeling. One potential suitor for Whiteside that could present a possible upgrade to the franchise is the Los Angeles Clippers, who have DeAndre Jordan on the trade block, but with the Clippers pushing the hard reset on the franchise after booting Blake Griffin, it seems unlikely that they’d take on a contract as big as Whiteside’s.
All that points to Whiteside staying put in Miami, for a variety of reasons. Crazier things have happened, though, and there’s a way to go until the trade deadline officially passes.
