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Miami Heat: 5 potential trade destinations for Hassan Whiteside

By Rahmeaun Rahming

TORONTO, ON - NOVEMBER 25: Hassan Whiteside #21 of the Miami Heat looks on during the first half of an NBA game against the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena on November 25, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - NOVEMBER 25: Hassan Whiteside #21 of the Miami Heat looks on during the first half of an NBA game against the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena on November 25, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON – NOVEMBER 25: Hassan Whiteside #21 of the Miami Heat looks on during the first half of an NBA game against the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena on November 25, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – NOVEMBER 25: Hassan Whiteside #21 of the Miami Heat looks on during the first half of an NBA game against the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena on November 25, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /

Is it finally time for the Miami Heat to try and move big man Hassan Whiteside?

On December 4, 2018. the Miami Heat faced off against the Orlando Magic for the second time this season.

After perfect shooting from the field for 10 points in the first quarter (alongside five rebounds and one blocked shot in seven minutes of play), Hassan Whiteside headed to the bench with the Heat and Magic tied at 19-19.

Let’s steal a page out of NBA2K and simulate until he re-enters the game.

Whiteside comes back with 8:43 remaining in the second quarter, totaling two points off one shot attempt, one rebound, and one steal, in eight minutes, He once again heads to the bench for the half, this time with the Heat down 50-46.

Then, head Coach Erik Spoelstra brings the starters back out for the start of the second half.

In nine, third-quarter minutes, Whiteside accumulated a grand total of zero points on one shot attempt, three rebounds, one assist, and three blocks. With the Heat down 65-60, Spoelstra decided he had seen enough, and made the judgment call to bench him for the remainder of the contest.

In hindsight, this may have actually been the team’s undoing. The Magic expanded their five-point lead to 15 during this stretch, and DJ Augustin slammed the door shut with a 3-point shot, with 46 seconds left in the game.

And here is where the clouds begin to gather over top of the organization.

During the Magic’s fourth quarter run, everyone on the Heat’s bench looked ready to get the game over with.

One Heat player, in particular, appeared to be frustrated the most though.

Not only was Whiteside’s team not able to put up a fight in a close game, but to make matters worse, he wasn’t able to get any playing time in the fourth quarter either.

So with 40 seconds left in the game, Whiteside got up from the bench, and headed to the tunnel.

No one was given a heads up beforehand, and he could be seen working on his shots after the game ended.

Whiteside swore up and down that there was nothing to his early exit but a trip to the bathroom, but Heat Nation found that hard to believe. Dwyane Wade was quick to step in and deliver the bathroom news first, when Whiteside could not be found, but fans found him hard to believe as well.

All in all, the door Augustin shut, may have indeed opened another, leading directly to team president Pat Riley‘s cellphone.

With the relationship between Whiteside and the organization showing signs of breaking down like it did late last season, teams may start calling.

Here are some team-friendly trade scenarios where the Heat won’t have to beg other teams to take Whiteside, who still has the remainder of this year’s $25.4 million left on the books, as well as a substantial 2019-20 player option, worth $27 million.

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