But that doesn’t mean the Miami Heat wouldn’t be willing to trade Hassan Whiteside for the right price.
Last week ESPN’s Zach Lowe mentioned on his podcast that every player on the Miami Heat roster is available for trade.
"“I think the Heat are open for business. Up and down the roster, literally every player,” Said Lowe. “Literally no one is untouchable, not even Hassan Whiteside, by a long shot.”"
The Heat, before its game against the Golden State Warriors Tuesday, attempted to dismiss those rumors. Sort of. Via the Palm Beach Post:
"Whiteside is not available on the trade market, according to a Heat spokesman. The Heat are listening to offers that come its way like most teams, but they aren’t actively shopping their $98 million center."
Read More: Lowe: No one on the Heat is untouchable
Whiteside, who finished the game with 28 points and 20 rebounds despite the loss, said he wasn’t bothered by the trade rumors. Again, the Palm Beach Post:
"“I never really pay attention to [the trade rumors]. If I pay attention to it I wouldn’t be back in the league,” Whiteside said before Tuesday’s game against the Warriors. “There’s all kinds of rumors. A lot of people said a lot of things so I wouldn’t get back in the league. So, I don’t pay it no mind.”"
There is an important distinction to be made here. Actively shopping a player and listening to trade offers are two very different things. Lowe’s report never mentioned that the Heat are shopping Whiteside, but only that he’s available. For the right price, any player is available.
The Heat’s statement, meanwhile, is a bit contradictory. The first sentence, that Whiteside sin’t available, contradicts the second sentence, that they are listening to offers. All in all, it’s safe to say that it this point in the season the Heat will be answering the phone when other general managers call.
More: Whiteside dominates the paint in loss to Warriors
So even if the Heat aren’t actively seeking deals for Whiteside, if a team calls with an enticing package the team will mull it over.
After all, Whiteside, who signed a four-year, $98 million contract before the season, is not only perhaps Miami’s best player, but he’s also the team’s best trade asset.