Despite the rumors approaching the trade deadline, Hassan Whiteside remains with the Miami Heat and while he will be serving a one-game suspension on Friday, he is expected to play a critical role in the remainder of the season. The Heat remain playoff contenders and Whiteside's play will determine just how far they get through the Eastern Conference. It will also determine his future with the franchise as the Heat will have to make a critical decision on the center.
With Chris Bosh out for the foreseeable future with blood clot issues, Whiteside becomes even more important for the Heat. The center will be relied upon heavily as players like Justise Winslow see more starting time until Bosh can return. Whiteside still has an expiring contract to his name and the Heat will have to determine just what his future looks like with the franchise. Good play could keep him around.
According to Greg Cote of the Miami Herald, the Heat are torn with what to do with Whiteside in free agency. The center will command a max contract this offseason to the tune of $18 million. Whiteside's play has been nice on the court, but some of his antics are not favored by Pat Riley. Cote's reports that Riley is torn simply because there might not be better options outside of Whiteside on the market. Al Horford will cost the team a lot. Dwight Howard is too old and injury prone. The team might be forced to give Whiteside his money.
The contract to Dwyane Wade will dictate part of Whiteside's future as well. Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reported that Wade wants his contract done quickly before free agency really begins. The franchise star does not want to be waiting around for a new deal and is not interested in taking a pay cut. The Heat will be forced to pay Wade while also looking to chase another superstar as Kevin Durant's name has been tossed into the ring. The Heat cannot do all of that and retain Whiteside.
Miami could open up options if they drop Goran Dragic and his max contract. According to Ira Winderman of the Miami Sun-Sentinel, the Heat were looking at a trade of Dragic and could re-visit the idea in the offseason. That would free up salary cap space and allow the team more flexibility. Considering Dragic's struggles to fit in this season, the Heat might be able to get a better option in free agency at a cheaper price.
