NBA Trade Rumors: Should The Miami Heat Trade Hassan Whiteside?
Nov 21, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (21) at the foul line against the Philadelphia 76ers during the second half at Wells Fargo Center. The Philadelphia 76ers won 101-94. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
NBA Trade Rumors: The Miami Heat will likely be active in the trade market before the deadline. Though, should the team move Hassan Whiteside?
At 9-17, the Miami Heat don’t have much hope, if any, at sneaking their way into the Eastern Conference playoff picture.
Even if they do manage to pull it off, and some who make the playoffs, the Heat aren’t winning anything in the postseason. They’d be lucky to win a game or two, if that. However, as we’ve seen in the past, Pat Riley and the Heat aren’t about winning playoff series – or just games. They’re about winning championships.
And the matter of the fact is that the Heat don’t have a team good enough, as currently assembled, to do that. When you don’t have the talent, it’s time to blow it up and start over. Even though the Heat have begun to do that already, especially by letting Dwyane Wade sign with the Chicago Bulls this past summer, there are still a few moves the Heat can pull off in order to completely begin the new rebuild.
While most will point to trading Goran Dragic as the move that probably needs to happen most, there’s another elephant in the room – a 7-foot- one – that needs to be addressed.
Oct 18, 2014; San Antonio, TX, USA; Miami Heat president Pat Riley (center) watches from the stands during the second half against the San Antonio Spurs at AT&T Center. The Heat won 111-108 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
To Trade Or Keep Hassan
Clearly, there are two ways to look at this. First, keep Hassan. It’s easier. And it probably makes the Heat slightly more desirable and entertaining. If you were to remove Whiteside off this team, it would be bad.
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However, the good thing for Miami is that you simply wouldn’t be removing Hassan off this team. You’d be replacing him with either a) assets or b) younger/different talent.
Question is, is that really better than having Whiteside on the team and under contract for the foreseeable future? As is almost always the case, it’s not that simple.
There are a number of factors in determining whether it would be “smart” for the Heat to keep or trade Hassan away. Perhaps the biggest factor, though, is what they would be getting in exchange. The direction of the franchise also dictates whether or not they should move an asset like Whiteside.
What does Riley have in mind? Is he willing to blow it all up and begin a complete rebuild? If so, trading Whiteside would actually help the cause. Add a draft pick or two, and potentially a young prospect would be the right move as the team begins from scratch.
However, if Riley believes that he can make this a quick rebuild for the Heat, then perhaps keeping Whiteside would actually be valuable for this team moving forward.
Nov 17, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard C.J. McCollum (3) pulls up for a long shot against the Houston Rockets during the first quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports
Hassan To The Blazers?
Call me crazy, but this is a trade that could help both teams. Centered around the pieces of C.J. McCollum and Hassan Whiteside, the Heat and Blazers would swap key pieces. In this scenario, the Blazers would get a proper big man to stick next to Damian Lillard and the Heat would get a new backcourt mate for Goran Dragic.
Interestingly, Whiteside said that Portland was his second option during free agency – so we know there’s interest from both sides.
Hovering around .500, the Blazers haven’t exactly taken the step forward that many expected them to take this season. Couple that with the fact that McCollum and Lillard are more similar than they are complimentary, and you can see why this type of trade could offer intrigue for Portland.
Dec 13, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) shoots against the New Orleans Pelicans during the first quarter of a game at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Hassan To The Warriors?
If you thought I was crazy for suggesting a Whiteside-McCollum swap, you’re going to want to check me into an institution after this idea. But, give it a chance.
A trade package around Klay Thompson and Hassan Whiteside. The Golden State Warriors would get a center to solidify their interior defense and the Heat would get a true franchise player. Again, the Warriors don’t necessarily NEED Thompson; not with Kevin Durant.
Would it eliminate some of their “wow” and “unguardable” factor? Sure. But can you imagine a player like Whiteside on the Warriors? That’s unfair.
Miami would get Klay Thompson, who many persume to be a franchise player. Even though I have my concerns about Thompson’s ability to be a true franchise player, he’s still better than anything the Heat currently have on the roster, and would at least be a solid starting point for a rebuild.
However, it should be noted, the Warriors won’t move one of their core players this season. Not happening.
Oct 30, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (21) dunks the ball as San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard (2) looks on during the first half at American Airlines Arena. The Spurs won 106-99. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
The Likely Resolution
In the end, the likely outcome is that Pat Riley and the Miami Heat will probably move Goran Dragic and roll the dice on their ability to sway a star to come to South Beach next summer. Keeping Whiteside is probably the best – and most logical – course of action.
In the age of free agent power, no star will come to Miami without a draw. Whiteside, even though he’s far from the recruiter that Dwyane Wade was for this franchise, could be that.
You just never know. This will be the first summer in which Whiteside could be that recruiter for the Heat. Does he have the relationships? Is he likeable? Do his peers respect his game enough?
We’re all about to find out.
