• Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside.

Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside. (Photo : Getty Images)

The unimaginable has happened. Dwyane Wade, the "Heat lifer" has left South Beach.

The Miami Heat superstar has decided to leave the fold and return to his hometown. The story is too familiar for Pat Riley. He heard it two summers ago, and suddenly, the years of Miami Heat glory seems so far away in the past.

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After the news of Wade's transfer was confirmed, Hassan Whiteside, the Miami Heat center who just agreed to re-sign with the team for a max contract, may be the next casualty as ESPN reported that he was "dazed" by the news.

They took note of this hilarious yet cryptic tweet by the 26-year old center.


As ESPN's Jackson Alexander reasons, "Whiteside's reaction is understandable considering Wade's 19 points per game was second on the Heat last season to Chris Bosh, whose health remains a question." Bosh sat out the last part of the season due to alleged blood clots. Part of the treatment for his condition is blood thinners, the use of which could be fatal for professional athletes.

Whiteside could end up on a Heat team without Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade. To further complicate matters, other veteran teammates like Luol Deng and Joe Johnson have also proceeded to sign on with other teams (the LA Lakers and Utah Jazz respectively).

Right now, the only players on the books for the Heat are Goran Dragic, Chris Bosh, Josh McRoberts and sophomore Justise Winslow (data from Hoops Hype). The Heat also has to decide on matching the Brooklyn Nets' offer for Tyler Johnson (they probably should).

However, even if they now have 20 million to chase free agents, the market is almost up this late in the offseason. Most of the top players have committed to other teams. With the Boston Celtics, Indiana Pacers, New York Knicks and now the Chicago Bulls all improving while the Toronto Raptors and Detroit Pistons have gained a year of experience, the Heat might get booted out of the playoff picture.

This is why Fansided is questioning whether Whiteside should pull a "DeAndre Jordan" on his commitment.

Jordan committed to the Dallas Mavericks early in the offseason but eventually backed out and decided to re-sign with the LA Clippers again.

"The point is that if Whiteside feels that this isn't what he signed up for, would it be okay to pull out of his deal with the Heat?" asked Charles Rahrig.

What Jordan did was rare but it did open a Pandora's Box-the reality that teams are helpless if a player rescinds on a verbal agreement-like what Whiteside could do now.

Jordan got away with it, save for some boos in Dallas. There was no reason for Jordan to suddenly change his mind--none of Dallas' other commitments backed out.

Whiteside has a more compelling reason--a forgivable excuse. The team's heart and soul just left.