The Pelicans may be a team to watch as the Heat try to trade Hassan Whiteside this summer, according to Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald. After DeMarcus Cousins‘ Achilles injury, New Orleans is having second thoughts about offering him a max contract covering five years, preferring a two- or three-year deal at a reduced amount. If that impasse can’t be resolved, Jackson proposes a sign-and-trade involving Whiteside and other players, possibly including Justise Winslow.
Jackson, who notes that there’s strong support in the Miami front office to move on from Whiteside, examines a few other options, stating that the Trail Blazers and Mavericks planned to contact Whiteside when he was a free agent two years ago, but may be less interested now.
Another consideration is whether the Heat want to open up cap room for 2019 by trading Whiteside, who has two seasons and $52MM left on his contract, for an expiring deal. Jackson adds that Miami has to unload Whiteside and at least one more significant salary to be able to compete for a stellar free agent class.
There’s more tonight from Miami:
- If the Heat can’t find a trading partner for Whiteside, team president Pat Riley indicated he will intervene in any future disputes between his center and coach Erik Spoelstra, Jackson adds in the same story. Riley also stated that Whiteside will need to adjust his game to fit the modern style. “You’ve got these quintessential sort of centers that are being forced to play a certain game because the game has changed and there’s only one or two or three teams that can play that game,” Riley said, “because three or four transformative players can make that game effective. So, how do we make him effective?”
- Among the Heat’s many offseason decisions is whether to offer an extension to Winslow or let him become a restricted free agent in 2019, writes Ira Winderman of The Sun-Sentinel. After missing most of 2016/17 after shoulder surgery, Winslow bounced back with a solid year, playing 68 games and putting together a strong showing in the playoffs. “I’m in a much better state mentally than I was a year ago,” he said. “But none of these things are easy, dealing with stuff throughout this year, just the mental aspect of the NBA is tough and you’ve seen a lot of guys speaking out about it.”
- Although no one on the Heat roster is guaranteed to be with the team in the fall, point guard Goran Dragic told Riley that he definitely wants to stay in Miami, relays the Associated Press. “This is where I want to be,” said Dragic, who has another season left on his contract, plus an option year. “Everything here, it’s the way I want it.”
Whiteside and Winslow for Cousins? New Orleans must reality want AD to leave New Orleans, it wouldn’t be a bad idea but you have to be confident Winslow will become a star to make that sign and trade.
Winslow has not showed to be a star caliber player. He has the tools but he seems like he’s gonna be a lock down defender. Guys nowadays are 19, 20, 21 yrs old and already showing star moves, Winslow doesn’t have that.
To think Ainge tried offer 4 picks to move up to 9th in 2015 to draft this guy only for Charlotte to say no and take Kaminsky. Man.
Brad Stevens made Jae Crowder play great…who knows how Winslow would have worked out?!?
Winslow just turned 22 in March. He can do it all but shoot and that improved this year. That trend should continue.
Guess they don’t want to pay for a year of rehab. That’s why hell end up as a Laker. No sign and trade.
The Pelicans aren’t that desperate plus they could get much better deal than that on the Open Market
Agree. Pelicans would have to have a hole in their collective heads if they did that.