Listen hard enough and, through the Miami Heat’s fits of laughter, you’ll hear that they have no plans to trade Hassan Whiteside.
Chris Sheridan and Michael Scotto of Sheridan Hoops separately reported on scenarios that could see the Heat unload Whiteside as part of a deal for Dwight Howard of the Houston Rockets or DeMarcus Cousins of the Sacramento Kings. Though those rumors spread like wildfire over social media, the Miami Herald‘s Ethan J. Skolnick soon doused the inferno with an ocean’s worth of water (h/t CBS Sports):
With all of that said, it’s been a long time since the Heat has been as adamant in denying a report as it has been about this one: the report that it is trying to move Hassan Whiteside to get DeMarcus Cousins or Dwight Howard. But it’s not like the team is angry. More like amused. Flabbergasted. That’s because a lot of the logistics simply don’t make any sense.
Skolnick brings up a good, oft-overlooked point that he delves into more during his coming paragraphs.
Fact of the matter is, while Whiteside holds obvious value as the NBA’s leading shot-blocker, getting anything or anyone of equal or comparable value is next to impossible. Whiteside is set to explore unrestricted free agency this summer, and because of the way his contract was initially structured, the Heat do not own his Bird rights. If they wish to re-sign him, they’ve have to use some of their cap space.
The same goes for any team that would acquire him via trade. So not only would Whiteside be a flight risk, but his next team wouldn’t have the advantage of offering more years and money than any other suitor. They can offer him just as much as any other team with the same amount of cap space.
Sure, some general manager would jump on Whiteside anyway. But the Heat aren’t getting a Howard or Cousins for their big man. In addition to the Bird rights issue, Whiteside isn’t even earning $1 million this season. The Heat would have to sweeten the pot with heftier contracts (Luol Deng’s, for instance) just to get anyone worthwhile in return.
All of which is to say, while there’s no guarantee Whiteside begins next season with the Heat, he’s almost assuredly going to finish this one in Miami.
