Heat center Hassan Whiteside is accepting his new reserve role without complaining, according to Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald. Whiteside came off the bench Monday for the first time since he signed a four-year, $98MM contract in July of 2016. Whiteside, who missed the prior three games because of a hip injury, hasn’t been told how long the change will last.
“I came off a 29, 11 game, got hurt. This is what [coach Erik Spoelstra] wants to go with,” Whiteside said. “Can’t do nothing [but] just accept [it] and come out and dominate.”
That represents a change from last season, when Whiteside was vocal about his reduced playing time. Jackson notes that Spoelstra likes the inside combination of Bam Adebayo and Kelly Olynyk and may give them more time to see how they perform as starters. Whiteside, who has a $27MM player option for next season, is trying to make the best of the situation.
“I’m going to keep coming in and try to play the best I can out there,” he said. “It’s going to be a different unit out there. I get to play with (Dwyane Wade) more. I get to look at the bright side. You’re going to play against the backup guys. It’s a little different. You can read the game a little more, kind of see what’s going on, who’s hot, what kind of schemes they’re going with. It gives you some advantages.”
There’s more today from Miami:
- After barely playing all season, 38-year-old Udonis Haslem has gotten first-half minutes in three of Miami’s last four games, Jackson adds in the same story. Haslem, who has indicated he would like to play another year, has appeared in just seven games and logged 28 minutes. “In short bursts, he has given our team a great emotional boost,” Spoelstra said. “Not only do I trust him, but the players trust him.”
- Spoelstra said the Heat have always been “intrigued” by veteran guard Jarrett Jack, Jackson tweets. However, the organization has no plans to add Jack, even though it has two open roster spots. The 35-year-old signed a G League contract last week and was claimed yesterday by Miami’s affiliate in Sioux Falls.
- Ryan Anderson has only played four games and 16 minutes since being acquired from the Suns last month and he probably won’t see much more action, writes Ira Winderman of the Sun-Sentinel. The Heat plan to waive Anderson before his $21.26MM salary for next season becomes fully guaranteed on July 10, and they don’t want to risk an injury that might complicate that strategy.
Whiteside should have been coming off the bench these last couple of years, just like he did in his best season, the year before he got paid. FINALLY. I think it will be good for him and the team
I still dont understand the Tyler Johnson trade. I think he was more movable as an expiring contract in the offseason than Anderso, and made more sense to keep than eating Anderson’s money.
Totally agree. TJ they could’ve moved no problem. No one’s taking on Ryan Anderson’s dead money. And they included Ellington! They should have gotten like a 2nd rounder or Elie Okobo/D’Anthony Melton back at least.
Always “intrigued” by Jack? Just too shy to make a move until he was 35 and out of the league.
I don’t understand how Ryan Anderson getting injured would complicate the Heat from waving him before July 10th.
If he were to say, tear an Achilles and miss the entire 2019/20 season, the Heat would be on the hook for his entire salary – including the non-guaranteed portion – whether or not they keep him on the roster.