Miami Heat Rumors: Hassan Whiteside Should Be On 'Protected List' [VIDEO]

To date, Hassan Whiteside has been linked in trade rumors with two big name players in the NBA in Dwight Howard of the Rockets and DeMarcus Cousins of the Kings.

Understandably, any team would move heaven and earth to get their hands (or at least try) on either player, but it will come at a cost. That would entail current assets like aging players, plus a mix of bench players and perhaps a pick or two.

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Considering Howard and Cousins are big names, the Heat could dangle the likes of Luol Deng or maybe even rookie Justise Winslow for either team. But how about Whiteside?

It would be foolish to think that the Heat would even consider trading their center, especially with the progress he's made so far this season.

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Whiteside is a prime reason for the improved defense the team boasts -- he's a shot blocking demon who is one reason why shots are altered. He does his share of the rebounding and scoring as well, so why even dream of upgrading to established players when you have one that will likely be along their ranks soon (if not yet)?

And apparently Pat Riley calls all these trade rumors involving Whiteside ridiculous, according to The Miami Herald.

But trading Whiteside has some reason. It could be because the Heat know it will lose him anyway as a free agent, or perhaps a tactic to package other players who carry big salaries in an effort to clear some salary.

For his final year, Whiteside is expected to earn about $981,348, but those numbers are expected to rise astronomically if the Heat will not give him an acceptable offer.

So if one thinks about it, dangling Whiteside for either Cousins (roughly $51 million through 2017-18) or Howard ($22.3m this season and $23.2m next season) would need more asset to offset their large salaries.

But is it the right thing to do?

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