Center Hassan Whiteside is going to be very sought after this summer. With teams like the Lakers and Mavericks, and Trail Blazers expected to offer Whiteside a max contract, the 27 year old will have the biggest decision of his life to make starting July 1.
Although teams can start signing players on July 7th, Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel is reporting that Whiteside doesn't plan to wait and will try to have his decision done by the first day of July.
Whiteside says he hopes yo have his free agent decision in July 1
— Ira Winderman (@IraHeatBeat) June 26, 2016
Whiteside will be getting max offers from left and right, and will likely get a little under the max in Miami. It's unclear with way Whiteside is leaning, but every team interested in him as an absolutely huge hole at the center position. The Lakers don't have anyone to put alongside Julius Randle, the Mavericks have no one to put next to Dirk Nowitzki, and both the Celtics and Blazers could really use Whiteside's presence as a game-changer.
Whiteside, who is in the center of his prime (no pun intended), has also been non-committal about returning to Miami to play with the Heat.
Hassan Whiteside on free agency: "I find it flattering. In my past I was trying to call those teams. Now it's the other way around."
— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) June 26, 2016
Asked if he'll stay in Miami if all things are equal. Long pause. "We'll see."
— Ethan J. Skolnick (@EthanJSkolnick) June 26, 2016
[button width=”full” button size=”bigger” color=”custom” align=”center” textcolor=”#ffffff” texthcolor=”#ffffff” bgcolor=”#8b0000″ link=”https://clutchpoints.com/report-although-unlikely-jeremy-lin-open-returning-new-york-knicks/”]NEXT: Although unlikely, Jeremy Lin open to returning to New York Knicks[/button]