The Miami Heat got very lucky when they gave Hassan Whiteside another chance and he turned out to play his full potential.
Thus, it would be unthinkable for the Heat to even think of trading Whiteside now, but they may have to. According to Ira Winderman of the Sun-Sentinel, the Heat may have to face that dilemma.
A lengthy response to the question Heat fans are wary about: Can the Miami Heat lock up their new prized center before the end of the season (preventing his free agency)? The short answer is "No."
"Under NBA rules, the Heat have no ability to lock up Whiteside before the start of free agency," Winderman explained. "And even then, they lack the type of incumbent-team advantage that is typical in free agency because Whiteside will not have completed the required three seasons with the same team. The only ways the Heat can re-sign Whiteside without regard to the 2015-16 salary cap is if he again accepts the minimum salary (not happening) or the Early Bird average salary, which could fall at about the $8 million range (also likely far below his expected market value)."
So basically, when the Heat gambled on Whiteside, they made the mistake of not betting enough (three years instead of two) to hold the Bird rights as he further explains:
"Instead, the Heat will have to hold aside sufficient cap space to re-sign Hassan, just as any outside team would. Had the Heat signed Whiteside to a three-year deal instead of a two-year deal, they would not have had this issue (three seasons are required for full Bird Rights, which allows you to exceed the cap up to the maximum salary)."
Winderman's final, ominous words: "About the only way Whiteside could be locked up before free agency would be if the Heat were to trade him to a team that has ample salary-cap space."
Other than that, Whiteside is "up for grabs" for any team that has cap space to offer him the max. While the Heat has only $ 48 million guaranteed for next year, that does not include Dwyane Wade, Luol Deng, Udonis Haslem among others. If they were also to pursue Kevin Durant, they cannot tie up their cap space for Whiteside. (h/t Hoops Hype)
Can Pat Riley find a way to keep his rediscovered slotman?