Miami Heat: Hassan Whiteside has a chance at history

Another Miami Heat name could swat his way up the leaderboards.

Like it or not, this next Miami Heat season is all about Dwyane Wade and Udonis Haslem.

The pair’s 16th season will be their last, leaving the league as they arrived; joined at the hip wearing Heat red, white and black.

For Haslem, the season exists as a major statement.

Undrafted out of the University of Florida in 2002, Haslem’s career will be immortalized by his successors.

Sixteen seasons is more than some No.1 overall picks can muster, and his durability is etched in almanacs next to Miami’s franchise rebounding record.

For Wade, the year is both moment of reflection and a chance to pad his already legendary resume.

Beyond Miami’s record books, Wade has a shot at surpassing Michael Jordan himself, which, while not necessarily a goal, is certainly within the realm of possibilities.

But another, younger Heat member has his own shot at making history, and his shot at the record books could become a friendly competition.

Hassan Whiteside, currently third on the team’s all-time blocks list, could usurp Wade’s second-place standing.

A year ago, this would have been unthinkable.

Wade tops Whiteside by a margin of 127 rejections, a modest lead that would have been easily shattered by the Whiteside of 2016-17.

His injuries last year slowed his pace; for the first time in three seasons, Whiteside garnered fewer than 100 blocks, as he managed just 94 through 54 contests.

Assuming Wade hovers around 40 total blocks for the season, as he’s done for the last handful, Whiteside would need about 170 blocks to pass Wade; certainly doable if he remains healthy.

This feat is far from noteworthy.

Whiteside is a defensive stalwart at the rim. His 7-foot-7 wingspan should procure at least 100 blocks without question. Sometimes opponents can’t help but run into his outstretched arms.

However, the real significance of this mundane milestone is the fact that it’s possible at all.

More unfortunate than Whiteside’s injuries last year, was his questionable motivation.

He and head coach Erik Spoelstra seemed to butt heads at every juncture. They quibbled over playing time and usage, at one point earning enough attention that team president Pat Riley claimed the two needed an “intervention”.

But through three preseason games, Whiteside has shown that he hasn’t given up on Miami yet, instead, going the extra mile on both ends of the floor.

If Whiteside does skirt Wade on Miami’s blocks list year, he’ll have a tougher challenge ahead of him.

Alonzo Mourning racked up 1,625 blocks in his Miami tenure. Even at a consistent 200 blocks per season – which Whiteside accomplished in 2015-16 – that record is still at least five seasons away.

If ever there was a motivating factor for Whiteside to make heads up plays on defense, it could be some friendly competition with Wade.

Wrestling for rebounds with Bam Adebayo proved a powerful inspiration for Whiteside at times last year; a similar game with Father Prime could do the same.

Miami’s defense is stifling as it is. Recovering a motivated Whiteside will be a nightmarish addition.