It wasn't long ago when the Miami Heat were being showered with praise for re-discovering Hassan Whiteside. The seven-footer was out of the NBA when Pat Riley and co. came knocking on his door, ready to give him a chance to redeem himself in Miami.

Unfortunately, after a meteoric rise that saw him seal a four-year $98 million contract in 2016, Whiteside's stock has been on a gradual decline. After a career-high 32 minutes per game in 2016-17, his floor action dipped to 25 minutes nightly last season.

The fewer minutes, coupled with a number of rants on how he's being utilized by the coaching staff has relegated the shot-blocking machine to the trading block. However, the Heat face a tall order in finding a suitable taker for Whiteside — talent and baggage altogether.

Via the Miami Herald's Barry Jackson:

Two opposing general managers said last week that Whiteside has been made available but the trade market is limited, if non-existent, for a player who’s due $24.4 million this season and $27.1 million next season and plays a position that has become somewhat devalued.

Despite the cut in minutes, Whiteside still managed to average 14.0 points, 11.4 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game in the 2017-18 campaign. He's only 29 years old and very capable of logging more playing time than he did last season.

In fact, Whiteside's per 36 minutes stats are staggering — 19.9 points, 16.3 rebounds, 1.0 steal, and 2.5 blocks per game. Such gaudy numbers would absolutely make him one of the best big men in the league today. But as with everything else, talent can only take a person so far. Professionalism also plays a great part.

For Hassan Whiteside and the Miami Heat, ironing out their issue presents a tantalizing prospect for the team heading into next season as the Eastern Conference's throne has finally been vacated, now up for grabs.