This April 7, 2016 photo shows Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (21) walking on the court in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls in Miami. So as the Heat transition their focus to the offseason, president Pat Riley addressed the team’s priorities heading into the summer. It will be very hard for Miami to keep their own players and add a marquee free agent (such as Kevin Durant, whom they’ve been rumored to pursue), although Pat Riley and his staff are very good at maneuvering under the cap and will try to get creative.
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Riley said that the team will be at Whiteside’s door the moment free agency begins July 1.
With the Miami Heat knocked out of the playoffs, Dwyane Wade is preparing for another summer as a free agent.
Riley says Whiteside’s upside can not be ignored.
Whiteside, who is also set to become an unrestricted free agents, has increased his market value following a breakthrough season that saw the shot-blocking big man averaged career-highs in nearly all aspect of his game.
Chris Bosh last played February 9 because of a medical issue, and several sources told ESPN’s Brian Windhorst there is a fear within the Heat organization that the 11-time All-Star’s condition will prevent him from ever being cleared to play by team doctors. Compensation, to a player, is not just a way to get paid and live your life. It’s been reported that the Heat will seek out Durant, and try to lure him to Miami just as they did with LeBron James in 2010.
“What he’s done in this city over the last 13 years is irreplaceable”, Riley said. Now we want your initial thoughts about what they should do! That’s why this team was able to get to this point, they never made excuses, and they never felt sorry for themselves. “He will be right there at 12:01 [July 1] for us”. We all knew what the treatment was past year.
“We know where he belongs”.
Wade earned $20 million on a one-year contract this season.
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“We’ll sit down and talk about that with Dwyane”, Riley said. He’s owed $75 million over the next three seasons, and if the team is unable to rely on him, that’s money it could use elsewhere … potentially to re-sign Whiteside.
