With the NBA free agency period beginning Friday, it's crunch time for the Miami Heat.
Team president Pat Riley and the Heat's front office staff have major questions to answer as they prepare for the 2016-17 season.
The biggest question involves its biggest free agent: Hassan Whiteside. The 27-year-old center is an unrestricted free agent which means he's free to sign a deal with any team. Fortunately for him, several teams are prepared to offer top dollar for his services come in the coming days.
After earning $981,000 last season, Whiteside will sign a deal shortly that pays him up to $22 million dollars a year.
Not bad for a player who once had to beg NBA teams just for a tryout.
Now, while that's great news for the Whiteside family, it puts the Heat franchise in a tight spot.
The issue for Miami is should they use most of their salary cap space to sign Whiteside, or try their luck at wooing Oklahoma City superstar free agent Kevin Durant.
Since joining the Heat in 2014, Whiteside proved to be a difference maker on offense and defense.
In 121 games with the Heat, he's averaged 13.3 points, 11 rebounds and 3.2 blocks per game.
With those stats in mind, Miami's staff called Whiteside the team's top target in free agency.
"More than likely, players out there in free agency our No. 1 priority is Hassan Whiteside," Riley told reporters after the season.
If you're thinking, 'Well why can't they sign them both?' Well, the numbers just won't add up.
It appears Miami will have about $42 million in salary cap space in 2016 to sign its free agents, according to spotrac.com, a website that tracks professional sports contracts.
Since Whiteside will command a deal that takes up more than half of the team's salary cap space, that leaves just $20 million available to offer Durant, re-sign Dwyane Wade and sign other players to fill the roster like forward Luol Deng.
The Heat is also handicapped by Chris Bosh's large contract. Bosh, whose playing career remains in jeopardy, is guaranteed $23.7 million next season whether he plays or not.
In a perfect world the Heat could have used that money to pursue a superstar like Durant.
Now, even though there is no guarantee the Heat will sign Durant or Whiteside, the team likely has the inside track on the big man since it gave him his first real shot at the NBA.
Miami is reportedly a favorite among the six teams scheduled to meet with Durant beginning Friday, according to The Oklahoman.
If I'm Riley I'd put all my chips in to sign Whiteside unless Durant has given them an indication that he really wants to play in Miami next year.
If Miami plays this situation wrong it could lose out on both players leaving D-Wade as the lone star in a Heat uniform.
Grab your popcorn, this should be fun to watch.
Comments, concerns? Follow me on Twitter @ByMikeAllen
Team president Pat Riley and the Heat's front office staff have major questions to answer as they prepare for the 2016-17 season.
The biggest question involves its biggest free agent: Hassan Whiteside. The 27-year-old center is an unrestricted free agent which means he's free to sign a deal with any team. Fortunately for him, several teams are prepared to offer top dollar for his services come in the coming days.
After earning $981,000 last season, Whiteside will sign a deal shortly that pays him up to $22 million dollars a year.
Not bad for a player who once had to beg NBA teams just for a tryout.
Now, while that's great news for the Whiteside family, it puts the Heat franchise in a tight spot.
The issue for Miami is should they use most of their salary cap space to sign Whiteside, or try their luck at wooing Oklahoma City superstar free agent Kevin Durant.
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| Hassan Whiteside (left) guards Kevin Durant during a game at American Airlines Arena in Miami. |
In 121 games with the Heat, he's averaged 13.3 points, 11 rebounds and 3.2 blocks per game.
With those stats in mind, Miami's staff called Whiteside the team's top target in free agency.
"More than likely, players out there in free agency our No. 1 priority is Hassan Whiteside," Riley told reporters after the season.
If you're thinking, 'Well why can't they sign them both?' Well, the numbers just won't add up.
It appears Miami will have about $42 million in salary cap space in 2016 to sign its free agents, according to spotrac.com, a website that tracks professional sports contracts.
Since Whiteside will command a deal that takes up more than half of the team's salary cap space, that leaves just $20 million available to offer Durant, re-sign Dwyane Wade and sign other players to fill the roster like forward Luol Deng.
The Heat is also handicapped by Chris Bosh's large contract. Bosh, whose playing career remains in jeopardy, is guaranteed $23.7 million next season whether he plays or not.
In a perfect world the Heat could have used that money to pursue a superstar like Durant.
Now, even though there is no guarantee the Heat will sign Durant or Whiteside, the team likely has the inside track on the big man since it gave him his first real shot at the NBA.
The problem is time isn't on Riley's side. Whiteside plans to sign his contract on the first day of free agency while Durant's decision will take more time.Hassan Whiteside on free agency: "I find it flattering. In my past I was trying to call those teams. Now it's the other way around."— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) June 26, 2016
Miami is reportedly a favorite among the six teams scheduled to meet with Durant beginning Friday, according to The Oklahoman.
If I'm Riley I'd put all my chips in to sign Whiteside unless Durant has given them an indication that he really wants to play in Miami next year.
If Miami plays this situation wrong it could lose out on both players leaving D-Wade as the lone star in a Heat uniform.
Grab your popcorn, this should be fun to watch.
Comments, concerns? Follow me on Twitter @ByMikeAllen
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