Miami Heat Trade Rumors 2015: Heat President Pat Riley Dismisses News About Hassan Whiteside Leaving Team
Miami Heat president Pat Riley immediately dismissed the rumors about big man Hassan Whiteside being released from the team.
News about Hassan being traded has circulated online over the past months. In an October report by Asmir Pekmic of Sportsblog.com, the Heat was said to be willing to re-sign Whiteside for the coming year, but on one condition: if he accepts the minimum, which is also referred to as the "Early Bird" average salary.
The said salary is valued at $8 million, which, the report says, will not be accepted by Whiteside. The report adds that the Heat will not benefit from the 2016 free agency if they chose to re-sign Whiteside.
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"There is no way to lock him for the Heat and they will be in the same position as any other NBA team that wants Whiteside," the report states. It also adds that there are also rumors about Kevin Durant's intent to join the Heat, and this could be a reason for the team to let go of Whiteside.
However, Miami Heat president Pat Riley killed all of the rumors in a recent report by Manny Navarro of the Miami Herald.
According to the veteran NBA coach, all of the news about Whiteside were "BS," adding that he is interested in seeing where his current crop of players are headed and what his team can be capable of achieving.
Riley adds that he is completely satisfied with the team's chemistry, complimenting his team's depth and its mix of veterans and younger players.
"Probably some of our best defenders are our young players," Riley said of his team. "They're trying to get their offensive games to match their defensive games."
The Miami Heat is currently seated at the third spot of the Eastern Conference standings with a record of 18-11.
They last played against the Orlando Magic on Saturday, Dec. 26, where they won with a tally of 108-101. They are slated to face the Brooklyn Nets on Dec. 28, at home.
