Miami Heat: The value of big man Hassan Whiteside
By Chase Eyrich
With trade rumors amidst the league, the Miami Heat have to assess the value of Hassan Whiteside.
At times it’s been a rough year for Hassan Whiteside.
The center has missed 18 games due to two different bone bruises on his knee. And coming back from both injuries, Whiteside struggled to get back to game condition.
Having sometimes struggled to find production from the Heat’s big man, trade rumors began. The Heat have to ask themselves if they are getting their worth out of a four-year, $98 million contract for Whiteside.
Is there a need for Hassan Whiteside?
Kelly Olynyk and the emergence of Bam Adebayo have been extremely successful, especially when on the court at the same time. The ceiling for Adebayo seems almost limitless right now. So with those two, would the loss of Whiteside really be that bad? You could probably make some decent trades out of Whiteside, but would you really get what he’s worth?
The fact of the matter is there are still plenty who doubt the seven-footer. But like the majority of the Heat’s roster, Whiteside is probably most valuable to Miami.
There are times where Whiteside looks sluggish and unmotivated, but he’s also doing things that we haven’t seen in awhile.
Where credit is due
Whiteside had a lot to do with the incredible run last season, when the Heat were able to turn their season around. In 25 of the last 28 games, Whiteside came away with a double-double.
The reality is that Whiteside is an elite defender. Even with him being a great shot blocker, he’s much more than that on defense. His ability to stay in front of the offense is uncanny. You have to have the speed of a guard to get around him, and most of the time that’s not enough. Whiteside can rack up the blocks, but he does more by disrupting the shot. You have to be extremely creative to get a shot around the long wingspan of Whiteside.
When it comes to meshing well with a team, Miami is a perfect fit. Offensively, the pick and roll with Whiteside and Goran Dragic seem unstoppable. As Dragic is now out with a bruised knee of his own, Whiteside’s production doesn’t have to slow down. With the Heat’s depth, they can use Justise Winslow to transition into that role smoothly.
In an ever-growing guard league, Whiteside becomes a huge mismatch for smaller teams. For example, the Houston Rockets struggled against the big man, who posted 22 points and 13 rebounds. There’s no reason to not believe that the Heat with Whiteside cannot compete with the smaller teams.
Next: Miami Heat: Is Wayne Ellington this season's biggest surprise yet?
Miami is where Whiteside’s game has developed, where he fits in the best, and where he is most valuable.