Hassan Whiteside (Photo : El Nuevo Herald/TNS via Getty Images)
The Miami Heat was the last team eliminated before the Conference Finals cast was completed.
They were touted as the best team to challenge the Cleveland Cavaliers this season and they definitely looked the part in certain stretches in the season. However, losing their two best big men (Chris Bosh and Hassan Whiteside) was simply too tough of a challenge to overcome.
Will the Heat have to adjust playing without Bosh and Whiteside for good? How about Dwyane Wade, the Miami Heat "lifer?" ESPN Insider discussed the possibilities for the team's future.
For Hassan Whiteside, not one of ESPN's panel would let him walk without making an offer, and for good reason. However, not all of them would offer the max. Tom Haberstroh said: "I'd offer him $15 million annually with team options and have Pat Riley regale him with stories of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Udonis Haslem and other Heat stars who took discounts in the name of winning."
It's likely that there would be teams that will offer the max (about $21-22 million) and Whiteside may not be eager to take a discount. This is his first big payday as he is actually the biggest bargain in the league last season earning only the minimum. Haberstroh remains firm, though: "I also don't view him as a rock-solid franchise foundation worthy of a max contract."
Another ESPN Insider David Thorpe had a similar stance: make a sizable offer but let him leave if he insists on max money. "Don't lower the ceiling for your future by overspending on him.
On the other hand, Amin Elhassan and Kevin Pelton had similar views of offering Whiteside the max. Pelton said: "Swallow hard and re-sign him at the max" which Elhassan mentioned is a four-year, $ 92 million question." They acknowledge that the arguments to let him go, but the tough task is how to replace him.
SB Nation tackled the Heat situation as well. They did not arrive at a definite conclusion (that belongs to the Heat) but maxing Whiteside definitely disqualifies them from pursuing other free agents like Kevin Durant and would likely cost them Luol Deng. But with the Chris Bosh situation still a big question mark, the Heat can't afford to lose Whiteside and Bosh next season.
That being said, the Miami Heat, specifically Pat Riley has too much pride not to pursue the biggest fish (Kevin Durant). He will take that meeting with KD and even Horford even at the risk that Whiteside might sign with another team in the meantime.
It is safe to assume that he has already thought of contingencies if Whiteside bolts. Most of the NBA experts still believe that Riley can construct a contender since the Heat are one of the most resilient teams with stability at the coaching position. If they lose Whiteside, the Heat can find a way to replace him. Elhassan said it best.
"Pat Riley might be the best executive of the modern era, and when people talk about Miami being a free agent destination, what they really mean is 'Riley is a great recruiter.' No one has mastered the art of the overhaul quite like Riles," Elhassan concluded.
