At the end of last season, it appeared that the relationship between Hassan Whiteside and the Miami Heat might be coming to the end. Whiteside spoke out a few times about lack of playing time and how frustrated he was with the Heat organization. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra was at summer league and tried to put some of the rumors about bad feelings to rest. He talked about how they have a good relationship and have been talking this summer.
“I have absolutely been in touch with Hassan,” Spoelstra said following the Heat’s summer league practice Wednesday at The Clark High School in Las Vegas via The Palm Beach Post.
“We’ve gotten together for lunch, in constant contact on the phone and in texts. Like many things in this league, it’s not what it seems on the outside. It’s pretty normal NBA life. I’m looking forward to the start of the season with a healthy Hassan. I know he’s looking forward to that. And we still have a good part of the summer to get better.”
In the postseason Whiteside became a non-factor and for a guy who is the highest played player on the Heat that was surprising.
Spoelstra thinks one of the big positives this season for Whiteside is that he will be coming into the season healthy. Whiteside dealt with injuries a few different times last year and that hurt his chance to get into a groove late in the season.
“I think Hassan having an opportunity to start off the season healthy will be a really big boost for us,” Spoelstra said.
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