Not that long ago, Hassan Whiteside was the one making the phone calls. Two summers ago, he was attempting to make the jump from the D-League to the NBA, calling teams asking for a chance. Now, he's one of the most sought-after free agents of the class -- and teams are calling him.
Hassan Whiteside to decide free agency fate on July 1
The big man says he’ll choose a team where “all the dots have to connect.”
Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
They better hurry. Whiteside, 27, told reporters he's going to make a decision by July 1, the first day of free agency. Rated as one of the top big men available, he is reportedly being courted by the Miami Heat (his current team), the Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers, Portland Trail Blazers and Golden State Warriors. He's not ready to list anyone as the favorite, saying that his search is open -- he's going to go with the best opportunity.
“It’s a toss-up; it’s a lot of things that come into it,” Whiteside said. “It’s not one specific thing. It’s like having a wife. You can’t say one specific thing you like about her. You have to like her as a whole. I have to choose it all together, so all of the dots have to connect.”
Whiteside made $990,000 this past season, but is likely due for a max contract, which could earn him as much as $22 million next season. He had a big year, though, averaging 14.2 points, 11.8 rebounds and a league-leading 3.7 blocks per game in his second season in Miami.
He has met with the Heat’s Pat Riley, who said Whiteside is the team’s No. 1 priority this offseason. The Heat also have the ability to sign Whiteside for slightly more than any other team -- a max contract with Miami would net Whiteside $98 million over four seasons.
The athletic 7-footer still might not end up in Miami. By setting July 1 as the date he’ll make a decision, he doesn’t have much time to figure out his future. He is, at least, enjoying being on the other end of the phone -- not begging a team to give him a chance.
“I find it flattering, because in my past, I was trying to call those teams and now it’s the other way around,” Whiteside told reporters. “It’s a flattering experience and I’m thankful for this opportunity.”
Now it’s an opportunity he has take advantage of -- not matter which team he ends up with.
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