Since the Miami Heat's disappointing exit in the first round in this year's playoffs, it has seen big man Hassan Whiteside's standing with the team being put in the air.
Whiteside struggled tremendously in the playoffs to be a factor on the floor for the Heat that made him a largely unuseful asset while pushing the team to possibly explore trade options. However, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald is reporting that his return to the team is the likely scenario that will pan out.
And Whiteside’s return now appears likely, so much so that all parties have begun the process of mending a relationship that grew strained on several occasions last season. Coach Erik Spoelstra said last week that he and Whiteside have been in communication and went to lunch.
Beyond just his lackluster play in the playoffs, Whiteside still possesses a significant chunk of his contract left on the books two of years of his four-year, $98.4 million that will pay him $25.4 million for the 2018-19 campaign and a $27 million player option for the season after that.
Given his continued regressed performance on the court, he will likely move to pick up that option as this type of money annually won't be available on the open market.
There have also been some lingering questions about his behavior as he has had some internal issues over the last couple of years. This had bubbled up once again last season after he saw his playing time be reduced when the team leaned toward small-ball lineups. It has become a situation where the Heat have had their hand forced to keep him in the mix as a primary piece of the puzzle.
Following a discouraging close to last season, it could have provided the motivation for him to work on his game this summer to bounce back in a major way to become a more reliable offensive option and cement his long-term future with the franchise behind his current deal.
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