4 role players from the past who are perfect fits for the Heat in 2023-24

Hassan Whiteside 

When Hassan Whiteside was a member of the Miami Heat from 2015 to 2019, he was a true force to be reckoned with. That version of Whiteside could bring so much impact to the current Heat depth. Coach Erik Spoelstra once had the luxury of having both Bam Adebayo and Whiteside as big-man options. I always felt like if Whiteside were to have bought into the idea of backing up Adebayo the two could have been extremely formidable in the frontcourt rotation. 

Bringing a rim-protecting big man like Whiteside off the bench could help with size against the teams that have caused problems for Miami in recent years. Such as the Nuggets with Nikola Jokic and the Boston Celtics who added 7-foot big Kristaps Porzingis into the fold this season. During those prime Whiteside years, he led the NBA in both rebounding and blocks. His best year came in the 2016-2017 season at the age of 27, where he averaged 17.0 points, 14.1 rebounds and 2.1 blocks on 56% shooting.

Having someone like Whiteside would also allow Kevin Love to be utilized at his natural power forward position, along with Caleb Martin and Jaime Jaquez Jr. only getting wing minutes. He is a player who could’ve added a beefy, long presence into any current Heat rotation and allowed other players to play more freely. -- Daniel Riccio: