The Miami Heat's season is over after a disappointing playoff run that ended in five games to the Philadelphia 76ers. Many expected this series to go at least six games, but Philly was too much for the Heat to overcome, especially without Hassan Whiteside playing at a high enough level.
During the regular season, Whiteside averaged 14 points, 11.4 rebounds, 1.0 assist, and 1.7 blocks on 54 percent shooting from the field in 25.3 minutes per game. In five games against Joel Embiid and the Sixers, however, Whiteside was nonexistent averaging just 5.2 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks in 15.4 minutes per game.
His fight with foul trouble, mixed with his previous comments about his future being uncertain if he couldn't see the court, has led the Heat to a tough position. According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, Miami is going to explore trading Whiteside this summer after seeing that, most times, the team appears to play better with him off the floor.
His limited minutes were partly the byproduct of foul trouble, partly the byproduct of Philadelphia playing some lineups without a natural center, and partly from the apparent conclusion of this coaching staff that the team is often better playing without him.
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The Heat is expected to explore a Whiteside trade, with the center due $24.4 million and $27.1 million in the final two years of his contract.
With how much money Whiteside is due over the next couple of years, it might be hard to find a team willing to trade for the big man. As we've seen in the past, however, anything can happen in the NBA.
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