Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (L) with head coach Erik Spoelstra. (Photo : Getty Images)
Miami Heat president Pat Riley recently admitted that retaining center Hassan Whiteside is the team's "no. 1 priority" in the coming free-agency period.
However, it is easier said than done for Riley and the Heat as the 26-year-old, 7-foot Whiteside is expected to draw maximum salary offers from other teams this summer after the way he performed in the recent regular season.
Whiteside averaged a solid 14.2 points, 11.8 rebounds, and a league-leading 3.7 blocks in 73 games for Miami during the last regular season. He also shot an incredible 60.6 percent from the field to earn the status of one of the best inside players in the NBA today. He is set to become an unrestricted free agent this July as his two-year, $1.7 million deal with Miami is set to expire.
The issue is actually not in Whiteside commanding a max contract but the fact that the Heat do not own his Bird rights, which means Miami "cannot go over the cap to sign him or offer him more money than his other suitors", as per CBS Sports.
"He's obviously, I think, our No. 1 priority, period," the Heat president said. "You don't have to look further than that. While there might be players out there in free agency, our No. 1 priority is Hassan Whiteside. He's 26 years old, he's a game changer, I don't think he's even reached his real ceiling in a couple areas of the game that I think that now he'll be more comfortable with once this situation ends."
Riley said that he hopes to get Whiteside agree to a new deal before the July 1st deadline of giving offers to free agents arrives as he knows it would be difficult for Miami to compete with the money available from other teams that are interested in their young big man.
Riley also acknowledged Whiteside's importance to the Heat in defense and rebounding as he said that "your offense is only as good as what you do at the defensive end," Oregon Live indicated.
What makes it even more complicated is the current status of stars Dwyane Wade, Luol Deng, and Joe Johnson, who are all upcoming unrestricted free agents in the offseason. Riley said the management wants them all, even substitute forward Udonis Haslem, back in the lineup next season.
"It will be fun in July," said Riley said. "We'll see. I hope it'll be fruitful for us."
