Hassan Whiteside and Chris Bosh (Photo : Getty Images Sport)
The Miami Heat is likely to lose Hassan Whiteside to Free Agency due to their salary cap obligations.
This was already mentioned by Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel in an earlier column, and the Heat's failure to lock him in for three years will become their downfall.
"With Whiteside to fall short of full Bird Rights due to only a two-year tenure with the team, the Heat still will have to create salary-cap space to re-sign him next summer. The only way for the Heat to go over the 2016-17 salary cap to re-sign Whiteside would be if he would sign for the average salary as part of his Early Bird Rights, a figure of less than $10 million, one expected to be far below his market value."
The Heat have maximum contract commitments to Goran Dragic and Chris Bosh. Dwyane Wade's one year deal will expire, but will the Heat even think of sacrificing him to keep the exploding big man?
Chris Sheridan of Sheridan Hoops says "No" in his radio interview. In fact, his days in Miami are "numbered." He reasoned that Whiteside, who has been a journeyman and even ran out of the league at one point, has paid his dues and is raring for a big payday.
When asked about a possible one-year contract with the Heat for $ 9 million (the most that Miami can offer) and re-signing with full Bird rights for the maximum, Sheridan sees no reason why Whiteside would wait another year when at least 20 other teams can offer him the max at season's end.
Unless the Heat can find a way to clear the cap space and renounce their free agents not named Dwyane Wade, it would be wise for the Heat to cash in on Whiteside now when his trade value is its peak. Whiteside has been averaging 13.8 points, 10.8 rebounds hitting 67% of his field goals. (h/t Basketball Reference for stats).
The Boston Celtics, eager for a dominant big man, would be ready to pounce on this opportunity with a wealth of assets at Danny Ainge's disposal. It's a question, though, on whether Miami would be eager to help a conference rival.
