MIAMI — Last season, the Miami Heat uncovered the rarest of NBA finds—a clearance-priced, mobile 7-footer.
But Hassan Whiteside's value has exponentially exploded since, and his days in the bargain bin will come to a close this coming offseason.
As the league's leading shot-blocker—3.8 per game, the highest such average in more than a decade—and one of only eight centers averaging a double-double, the 26-year-old will be at least a max-contract candidate when he hits the open market this summer.
Heat brass have witnessed his wild rise from NBA vagabond to potential All-Star firsthand, but nobody can be certain what he's worth to the franchise.