The demand in the league for a defensive big man could see Hassan Whiteside emerge as a trade chip for the Miami Heat before the February 23 deadline.
Whiteside could be among the big men available before the deadline, reports Sean Deveney of Sporting News. According to Deveney, league executives see the Heat willing to deal off veterans in order to "retool around younger guys," but there aren't much valuable trade assets outside of Whiteside and Goran Dragic.
"The Heat are flailing, and the consensus among league executives is that they'll be willing to deal off veterans in order to retool around younger guys. Of course, there are not many veterans to be had on the roster outside of Whiteside and point guard Goran Dragic, who is very much open to a trade out of Miami," Deveney wrote.
Whiteside is playing the best season of his career, considering the numbers he has been posting on both ends of the floor. The 27-year-old center, who signed a four-year $98 million contract with the Heat this past summer, is averaging 17.3 points and 2.2 blocks, to go along with a league-leading 14.3 rebounds a game.
These numbers would have any teams tripping over to acquire Whiteside's services, but as noted by Deveney, rivals could be reluctant to trade for him because of his "problems with effort and focus."
"The Heat don't want to unload him because that would signal resounding indecision on the team's part. And other teams are reluctant to trade for him because if his problems with effort and focus are bad enough to make the Heat want to be rid of him, wouldn't those problems affect his new team, too?" Deveney wrote.
If the Heat truly decides on moving on from Whiteside as early as this season, teams like the Boston Celtics, Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers could be among the possible destinations for the shot-blocking big man. These teams have young talents and picks necessary, and pieces to surround any of the Heat's young talents in Josh Richardson, Justise Winslow and Tyler Johnson.
It still unclear whether the Heat would consider trading Whiteside at this point, but it would be pricey pursuing one of the most dominating big men in the league.
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