A move and a message
Although there is not a lot of certainty as to where this Heat team is headed, one thing that is clear is the focus on keeping the young core.
With the two large Tyler Johnson and Whiteside contracts last offseason, the Heat did not have a lot of options without moving at least one of those contracts.
Instead of doing that, they signed a few young players to small contracts, re-signed Wayne Ellington and will most likely be re-signing signing Dwyane Wade and Udonis Haslem in the coming weeks.
However, this team will look different than last year without any big moves. Dion Waiters will be returning after playing just 30 games last season. Young players have been putting in work over the summer.
This team does have talent, but they have to find themselves again.
Whiteside is a large part of this, because of the issues that have surrounded him on and off the court as it pertains to his work ethic and effort. Given the status of the Eastern Conference, the Heat could really end up almost anywhere depending on what version of this team shows up.
There is something to be said for sticking with what you have and believing in Heat Culture, as this front office has proved that they are doing.
As unpromising as this might feel for fans, it does not have to be a bad thing. If they are able to put in the work, this league and its fans will be surprised by the outcome of a team that sat back during the summer.