Whiteside and The Mav's. This is gonna be expensive.

[MARSHALL77]

Report: Mavericks to get meeting with UFA Whiteside, Blazers in the mix
by Joseph Casciaro 22h ago

Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Another summer means another pursuit of a free-agent center for the Dallas Mavericks.

The Mavs, who have struck out in recent years in their pursuits of big men like DeAndre Jordan and Dwight Howard, will reportedly get a meeting with unrestricted free agent Hassan Whiteside in the early hours of free agency, according to ESPN's Tim MacMahon.


Whiteside, who is expected to command a maximum contract worth roughly $94 million over four years, has averaged 13.3 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 3.2 blocks over the last two seasons with the Miami Heat after flying under the radar since being selected 33rd overall by the Sacramento Kings in the 2010 NBA Draft.

The 27-year-old - who suffered a season-ending knee injury during Miami's second-round playoff loss to the Toronto Raptors - has faced questions surrounding his focus and overall defensive impact outside of his block numbers, although his free-agency value isn't expected to be affected by such concerns.

According to MacMahon, the Portland Trail Blazers are one of the other suitors attempting to lure Whiteside after the team made a surprise postseason run with a rotation of bigs that included Mason Plumlee, Ed Davis, Meyers Leonard, and Noah Vonleh.

Dallas has failed to make it past the first round of the postseason since winning the championship in 2011, and would no doubt like to surround Dirk Nowitzki with elite talent in his final years.

 

[HerdMan13]

Vinny Curry signed his 5-year $46 million contract earlier this year....Hassan is set to sign a contract somewhere in the range between $94 and $98 million. Big time dollars. Very very happy to see our guys do well

 

[BleedsGreen33]

Report: Mavericks to get meeting with UFA Whiteside, Blazers in the mix
by Joseph Casciaro 22h ago

Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Another summer means another pursuit of a free-agent center for the Dallas Mavericks.

The Mavs, who have struck out in recent years in their pursuits of big men like DeAndre Jordan and Dwight Howard, will reportedly get a meeting with unrestricted free agent Hassan Whiteside in the early hours of free agency, according to ESPN's Tim MacMahon.


Whiteside, who is expected to command a maximum contract worth roughly $94 million over four years, has averaged 13.3 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 3.2 blocks over the last two seasons with the Miami Heat after flying under the radar since being selected 33rd overall by the Sacramento Kings in the 2010 NBA Draft.

The 27-year-old - who suffered a season-ending knee injury during Miami's second-round playoff loss to the Toronto Raptors - has faced questions surrounding his focus and overall defensive impact outside of his block numbers, although his free-agency value isn't expected to be affected by such concerns.

According to MacMahon, the Portland Trail Blazers are one of the other suitors attempting to lure Whiteside after the team made a surprise postseason run with a rotation of bigs that included Mason Plumlee, Ed Davis, Meyers Leonard, and Noah Vonleh.

Dallas has failed to make it past the first round of the postseason since winning the championship in 2011, and would no doubt like to surround Dirk Nowitzki with elite talent in his final years.

Dirk opted out. He may be leaving. If I'm Hassan there's no way I go to Dallas.

 

[MARSHALL77]

$98 Million over 4 years - Staying with Miami.

Hassan Whiteside was a second-round pick of the Sacramento Kingsin the 2011 draft and out of the NBA after playing 19 games in parts of two seasons. He played in the NBA's Development League, as well as in Lebanon and China, from 2012 to 2014.

On Friday, Whiteside agreed to a max contract with the Miami Heatfor four years and $98 million, according to The Associated Press.

Whiteside's statistics not only suggest he could be the most effective true center in the NBA, but that he also could be a historically good defensive presence.

Last two seasons

Whiteside has averaged 13.3 points and 11.1 rebounds per game since returning to the NBA at the beginning of the 2014-15 season. He is one of nine players to average a double-double during that span. That list includes the usual names:Anthony Davis, DeMarcus Cousins, Dwight Howard and DeAndre Jordan, among others.

Of those nine players, only Davis has a higher player efficiency rating.

Ben Wallace (278 in 2001-02).

Unlike many of the current rim-protecting bigs, Whiteside has flashed the ability to be similar to the great centers of the 1990s. His 3.5 blocks per game and player efficiency rating of 25 in 2015-16 placed him in the company of David Robinson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Hakeem Olajuwon, Patrick Ewing and Alonzo Mourning.

The best is yet to come

Whiteside, who turned 27 in June, is only getting better.

In 53 games before the All-Star break, the Heat were 29-24 and Whiteside averaged 12.2 points, 11 rebounds and 3.9 blocks per game.

After the All-Star Game, the Heat took off with a 19-10 record and Whiteside was at the center of it. He averaged 17.5, 13.3 and 3.4 during that span. Whiteside also shot 75 percent from the free throw line in 164 attempts after shooting 55 percent in 165 attempts before the break.

The improvement suggests that Whiteside is ready to shoulder a larger role offensively for the Heat during his new deal.

He will make $3.2 million in the Heat’s first dozen games of the 2016-17 season, as much as he has made in his entire NBA career to this point.