Hassan Whiteside
As mentioned above, one of the largest topics of conversations surrounding the Heat this year was Whiteside.
Having just made the NBA All-Defensive Second Team, the 26-year-old has quickly become one of Miami’s biggest stars. And not just because he stands at 7-foot.
Signed by team president Pat Riley and company in 2014, he started off on a strong foot; his first year with the Heat, he averaged 11.8 points, 10.0 rebounds and 2.6 blocks a game, on 23.8 minutes of play. However, last year, his numbers only improved.
Whiteside put up 14.2 points, 11.8 rebounds and 3.7 blocks a night this season, seeing 29.1 minutes of play.
According to Basketball-Reference.com, these numbers placed the big man at the top of not only franchise records but league rankings as well; when it came to both total blocks (223) and blocks per game (3.7), Whiteside was ranked first in the NBA. He was also No. 1 in defensive ratings (93.6).
Now, that does not mean that Whiteside’s year was without faults. Although he is seemingly working on it, the young buck’s immaturity did still make a few appearances. For example, he was suspended one game for throwing an elbow at San Antonio Spurs center Boban Marjanovic.
He also dealt with health concerns, both during the regular season and the playoffs. But in a way, his first encounter with an injury actually became a learning experience for the organization.
Until February, Whiteside had a starting position on the team. However, after he was forced out by a strained oblique, he returned off of the bench. And believe it or not, he was actually more effective that way.
This allowed the coaching staff to utilize him in different ways, expanding their already strong defensive strategy. It also worked to show the team that Whiteside cared more about their success as a unit, than about his role as an individual.
And of course, his comic relief did not go unnoticed either.
Whiteside is set to become a free agent this summer, and there has already been plenty of speculation over to what extent Riley will go, in order to re-sign him. While the center might deserve a maximum contract, there is also the possibility that he would be willing to take a pay-cut in order to stay in Miami.
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