Kyler- Cs interested in Whiteside

[Eddie20]

Hassan Whiteside

The HEAT have a big problem when it comes to retaining Whiteside. Because the HEAT signed Whiteside to a two-year deal, they do not have full-Bird rights on Whiteside this summer and will have to fit any deal worth more than 175 percent of his previous salary under the salary cap. This gets compounded because HEAT star Dwyane Wade carries a $30 million cap hold that basically erases any salary cap space the HEAT would have, meaning the HEAT have to sign Wade’s deal first and fit Whiteside into whatever is left. As things stand today, the HEAT could get to about $40 million in cap space, but that figure has to account for Wade’s new deal and whatever is paid to Whiteside. While Whiteside was drafted in 2010, he only has two full years of NBA experiences, which sets his maximum possible starting salary at $21.6 million. The HEAT can make that work with a little help from Wade.

The problem for Miami is that while they can keep Wade and Whiteside, they’d lose the ability to keep almost anyone else and would have no means to add to the team beyond the room exception and minimum deals.

The wrinkle for Miami is that Whiteside has not earned serious money in the NBA yet and will turn 27 next Monday, so this is his chance to lock in his future and those around him say he’s not open to much flexibility.

The narrative around Whiteside has been that he’d like to stay in Miami. He’s comfortable there, has had success there and they can pay him the most money of any team in the league. Assuming that’s the offer from the HEAT, there is a better than average chance he signs a new deal. If the HEAT try to play games, sources close to the situation say Whiteside will go shopping.

There is a sense that Whiteside is one of the top names on the Lakers’ wish list of free agents, with the Celtics also interested. The problem with trying to peg either as having some edge over the other neglects that Whiteside could be the most obtainable free agent in the class and likely gets a lot of interest beyond those two suitors.

League sources said this weekend that Whiteside is getting a full max deal – the question is will it be from the HEAT or someone else?

[saltlover]

Kyler's a smart writer -- mention Lakers and Celtics are interested in a player, get instant clicks.

That said, the Heat are in some real cap trouble this summer.  Bosh's situation has really messed them up.  I don't think Wade gets $30 million, but even if he gets $20 million like this year they'll have a tough time finding room to max Whiteside.

[Beat LA]

Why weren't they interested in him last year when he was in the d-league? #listentoyoki

We practically could have had him for free.

[Eddie20]

Kyler's a smart writer -- mention Lakers and Celtics are interested in a player, get instant clicks.

That said, the Heat are in some real cap trouble this summer.  Bosh's situation has really messed them up.  I don't think Wade gets $30 million, but even if he gets $20 million like this year they'll have a tough time finding room to max Whiteside.

What's more, if they play games waiting to have a meeting with Durant then another team could swoop in on Whiteside.

[LooseCannon]

Why weren't they interested in him last year when he was in the d-league? #listentoyoki

We practically could have had him for free.

You'd still have to pay him the max to keep him, so why not let another team take the risk of developing him, then swoop in and grab him as a free agent if he proves himself worthy?  Guys in Whiteside's position shouldn't want to be on the Celtics anyways, for the same reason that Kris Dunn is withholding medical records: joining the Celtics puts you at risk of not getting enough playing time to maximize future earnings if you are a young player looking to earn a big contract.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

Why is it that I've often seen people use the all-caps "HEAT"? Like we wouldn't know what was being referred to by "Heat"?

[jpotter33]

Why is it that I've often seen people use the all-caps "HEAT"? Like we wouldn't know what was being referred to by "Heat"?

I think that's actually how the logo is - all caps.

[jpotter33]

I'm so torn on Whiteside. When you watch him, it's easy to see how he's impactful, but he is a lousy team defender and more of an individual defender. Further, didn't all of the advanced stats say that the team was better with him off the floor?

Would a Love/Whiteside pairing work and draw free agents in 2017?

[LooseCannon]

Why is it that I've often seen people use the all-caps "HEAT"? Like we wouldn't know what was being referred to by "Heat"?

It is how the team has stylized the name in all publications and communications.  At least some people who use all-caps are mocking the team for doing so.

Other products stylized with all-cap names: SPAM.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

Why is it that I've often seen people use the all-caps "HEAT"? Like we wouldn't know what was being referred to by "Heat"?

I think that's actually how the logo is - all caps.

I just found a Deadspin article from 2008 stating that most official Miami Heat publications use the all-caps HEAT, but doesn't give a reason.

I think it's silly. I've never seen this done with another team.

I think someone in the "HEAT" organization who's terrible with grammar, spelling, etc., thought this was the right way (or a cool way) to write it, and it somehow stuck. Annoying.

[mr. dee]

Signing him would eat most of the C's cap space.

[Bobshot]

Amazing a guy who was picked out of the D league that anybody could have had, and turns into a max player in one season. Just shows the value of a rim protector and shot blocker.

How much better would the Celtics be with such a player? Now Whiteside is no Bill Russell, but Russell made the Celtics a Championship team with his defense and shot blocking. He blocked maybe 5-7 shots a game average before those numbers were recorded. That's 10-14 points added to the 16-17 ppg he averaged offensively.

I figure a shotblocker might be worth 4-6 ppg to the Celtics. That's on top of the great backcourt defense they have.

[LarBrd33]

Kyler's a smart writer -- mention Lakers and Celtics are interested in a player, get instant clicks.

That said, the Heat are in some real cap trouble this summer.  Bosh's situation has really messed them up.  I don't think Wade gets $30 million, but even if he gets $20 million like this year they'll have a tough time finding room to max Whiteside.

Well Kyler's also the same guy who said that Jahlil Okafor would go 2nd or 3rd in this draft on the same day he said that Boston would want more than just Okafor for the #3 pick... so maybe this is why?  If Boston has their heart set on signing Whiteside to a max contract, it probably takes them out of the running for Okafor - even if Okafor is better than everyone available at #3.   No point in introducing Okafor to situation where he's once again going to be sharing minutes with another guy slotted in his position.  If you give Whiteside a max contract, you better be prepared to play Whiteside major minutes.

[Eddie20]

Kyler's a smart writer -- mention Lakers and Celtics are interested in a player, get instant clicks.

That said, the Heat are in some real cap trouble this summer.  Bosh's situation has really messed them up.  I don't think Wade gets $30 million, but even if he gets $20 million like this year they'll have a tough time finding room to max Whiteside.

Well Kyler's also the same guy who said that Jahlil Okafor would go 2nd or 3rd in this draft on the same day he said that Boston would want more than just Okafor for the #3 pick... so maybe this is why?  If Boston has their heart set on signing Whiteside to a max contract, it probably takes them out of the running for Okafor - even if Okafor is better than everyone available at #3.   No point in introducing Okafor to situation where he's once again going to be sharing minutes with another guy slotted in his position.  If you give Whiteside a max contract, you better be prepared to play Whiteside major minutes.

Who are the Sixers assistant coaches?

[biggs]

Here's the big question- who would you rather pay 25 mill per season to- Whiteside or Love?