Heat Trade Rumors: Team could be ready to part with Hassan Whiteside

As the NBA Trade Deadline approaches, the Miami Heat are reportedly considering parting ways with Hassan Whiteside

Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside is going to receive a huge pay-raise in 2016 free agency as the big man currently making less than $1 million will potentially be paid like one of the best big men in the league. However, there’s a chance that he might not end the 2015-16 season with the Heat as they are reportedly seriously considering moving on from him at the 2016 NBA Trade Deadline.

According to a report from Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel, there is a “belief” in the Miami front office that now could be the time to go ahead and move on from Whiteside in the interest of helping the team’s future. However, Winderman also added that Whiteside and his representatives believe that the shot-blocking center is going to finish this season with the Heat.

Considering the mismatched beliefs between the Heat and their player, it’s definitely hard to figure out what fans should take from this situation. However, what is clear is that something is up with Whiteside in Miami right now and that could result in a deal being made before the NBA Trade Deadline.

Trading Whiteside is a bit trickier than it might seem, though, because his contract is expiring at the end of this year and the fact that his salary is so low. Outside of a hefty amount of draft-pick compensation, it’s going to be hard for the Heat to get value in return in a Whiteside trade that matches what his actual worth is. Moreover, it’d have to be a trade with a team that could afford to risk this just being a several-month rental of Whiteside.

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As things always seem to be with Whiteside, things are complicated between he and the Heat. However, the rumblings that the organization might want to trade him this close to the deadline are worth keeping an ear to the ground about.