Hassan Whiteside Trade Rumors: Latest News, Rumors and Speculation on Heat C

Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside has emerged as an intriguing trade candidate in the final year of his contract. 

Continue for updates. 

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Heat Reportedly Eyeing Howard or Cousins for Whiteside

Tuesday, Dec. 15

According to Chris Sheridan of SheridanHoops.com, Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard has grown unhappy playing the role of sidekick next to James Harden and could be on the move.

And according to Sheridan, the Heat are a potential landing spot for the eight-time All-Star: "The destination that makes the most sense is Miami in a trade centered around Hassan Whiteside," he wrote. 

But in order to snag Howard—who's making $22.3 million this season and holds a player option worth $23.2 million for next season, per Spotrac—Miami would need to find a way to make salaries match. 

According to Sheridan, the Heat are aiming to build a package around Whiteside's expiring contract, rookie Justise Winslow and cap filler. At present, the deals on Miami's cap sheet that could most logically be deemed cap filler are the expiring contracts of Chris Andersen, Udonis Haslem and Beno Udrih. 

Michael Scotto of SheridanHoops.com also reported Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins "has drawn significant trade interest" from the Heat, as well as the Chicago Bulls and Boston Celtics. 

In terms of maximizing the value of a young asset, a swap of Whiteside for Howard makes sense. The 26-year-old is in the final year of a two-year, $1.7 million deal, per Spotrac, and he should garner a sizable pay raise when a league-wide salary-cap spike occurs over the summer. 

And as the Sun-Sentinel's Ira Winderman explained, the Heat need to maintain cap flexibility to re-sign impending unrestricted free agents Dwyane Wade and Luol Deng. 

The possibility of a big-man swap is certainly intriguing, but both sides would likely have to get creative to make things work.