Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside could miss Wednesday's game against the New York Knicks with a groin injury, according to Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. He did not participate in Monday's practice, along with Derrick Jones Jr. (foot) and Udonis Haslem (illness), as the Heat will have to look for reinforcements early on the season until their impending recovery.

Whiteside missed time early last season as well, making his durability a recent concern, though others like Kelly Olynyk and Bam Adebayo are capable replacements for his position.

The 7-footer has been a timid scorer so far this season, despite gobbling 14.3 rebounds per game through the early get-go. Many have wondered if taking a four-year, $98 million gamble on him was truly worth it, and the more he faces injuries, the more it looks like the Heat's roll of the dice was one they'll come to regret.

Whiteside's numbers have regressed after a promising 2016-17 season that had him on the upside to become a nightly 20-10 nightmare, but the big man was slowed by nagging injuries last season, managing a rather pedestrian double-double of 14.0 points and 11.4 rebounds.

The North Carolina native is still strong at the defensive end, but nowhere near the powerhouse he was in 2015-16, when he blocked a league-best 3.7 shots per game as he made his way up the ranks.

Hassan Whiteside battled knee, back and groin injuries last year and made only 54 appearances — something the Heat are hoping won't repeat this time around as they look to cash in on their investment.