20 things to look forward to this NBA offseason

15. Can the Heat find a taker for Hassan Whiteside?

Hassan Whiteside may have booked himself a one-way ticket out of Miami with the way he imploded down the stretch of the 2017-18 season.

The big man erupted after an overtime loss against the Brooklyn Nets on March 31, profanely inquiring why Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra pulled him off the floor in favor of a smaller lineup. During Miami’s first-round loss against the Philadelphia 76ers a few weeks later, Whiteside was a non-factor on both ends of the floor, averaging only 5.2 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 15.4 minutes.

In early May, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reported there was “strong support among numerous people inside the Heat” to trade Whiteside this offseason. A month later, however, Jackson reported “it’s considered 50-50 at best — perhaps less — if the Heat will be able to trade Whiteside because his value around the league is diminished.”

An NBA friend of Whiteside’s told Jackson that the big man “has not asked for a trade and is very much open to making it work [in Miami], even after expressing dissatisfaction with his playing time on multiple occasions last season.”

Whiteside is a great shot-blocker and rebounder, but his lack of offensive versatility and his waning defensive focus make him a questionable fit against small-ball units in particular. If the Heat are committed to trading him this offseason, they’ll likely have to accept a bad contract in return or sell him for pennies on the dollar.

Next: 14. Will Jabari Parker stay in Milwaukee?