Miami Heat: In the end, Hassan Whiteside is only hurting himself

Miami Heat big man Hassan Whiteside continues to make things worse.

This season was supposed to be Hassan Whiteside’s for the taking.

After signing a four-year, $98 million contract with the Miami Heat in July 2016, he had a strong 2016-17 run. The center averaged 17.0 points, 14.1 rebounds and 2.1 blocks a game in 32.6 minutes of play, showcasing hard work and dedication. The big man was fully behind the organization’s culture, proving to president Pat Riley that maxing him out was the right decision. He was passionate, driven and ready to take on anything the team threw his way.

So naturally, fans were excited to see what Whiteside would bring to the table in 2017-18.

And at first, it seemed things were going in the right direction. After all, the 7-footer recorded a whopping 26 points and 22 rebounds in the first game of the year.

Unfortunately, it all went downhill from there. Whiteside was sidelined the next five contests, and played sporadically thereafter; his inconsistency only made worse by then missing another 13 games, due to injury.

Now, that’s not to say he didn’t still have standout performances. For example, on January 17, Whiteside finished with 27 points, 14 rebounds and 6 blocks against the Milwaukee Bucks, shooting 10-for-12 from the field.

But generally speaking, this season was a roller coaster ride for the center; more or less following suit with the Heat’s narrative on the year. And as if things weren’t complicated enough with him on the court, Whiteside’s off-court antics only made things worse.

From telling body language while on the bench, to commentary to the media about his lack of usage by head coach Erik Spoelstra, to throwing shade on social media… it was clear there was a total disconnect between the organization and their star.

A disconnect that has yet to be mended.

For starters, during the team’s exit interviews, Riley called Whiteside outside for not being prepared for the playoffs.

"“By the time we got to the playoffs I don’t think he was ready. He wasn’t in great shape. He wasn’t fully conditioned for a playoff battle mentally. He and we got our heads handed to us.”"

Something that obviously didn’t sit well with No. 21, as just a week ago, he posted this on Snapchat.

Not exactly a great look.

The problem is, Whiteside is really only hurting himself.

If he wants to continue on in Miami, he’ll have quite a bit of apologizing to do to the front office, before he can earn their trust again. Especially given that they didn’t just take a chance on Whiteside to begin with, but believed in him enough to give him a maximum contract.

Heck, Spoelstra even continued to have his back after his lackluster season.

"“I could not be more proud of a player [for] transforming himself as a guy that could pile a bunch of stats in a way that we had never seen before to a guy that really impacted winning.”"

And if the big man doesn’t want to stick around? Well, that’s problematic too. Because in order for him to start a new chapter elsewhere, the Heat will have to find takers for a trade. A task that becomes a lot more difficult, when the player exhibits poor impulse control.

Does Whiteside have a right to be frustrated? Absolutely. It can certainly be argued that Spoelstra didn’t in fact utilize his center correctly, for much of the season. But in order for him to have a successful future, whether it’s in Miami or with another team, he’ll have to find another way to channel his emotions.

Next: Miami Heat: Could Avery Bradley be a reclamation project?

A future member of the Miami Heat or not, Whiteside needs to work things out with management, before he destroys the rest of his career.