Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside has been one of the NBA’s best stories this season. After being drafted in 2010, he played in only 19 games in two seasons and has spent the last two years in the NBA Developmental League.
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Whiteside has exploded on the scene since being called up by the Heat, averaging nearly a double-double and more than two blocks in 32 games. According to Jason Leiser of the Palm Beach Post, Whiteside recalled a workout for the Los Angeles Lakers, saying he could have helped the team:
Hassan Whiteside: "I worked out for the Lakers. I thought they could use me. I guess not."
— Jason Lieser (@PBPjasonlieser) March 5, 2015
There are a number of teams who wish they could have brought in Whiteside. His impact on defense and on the boards has been outstanding and he has four games with 20 or more rebounds including the 25 he grabbed, along with 18 points, in the Heat’s win over the Lakers.
Whiteside worked out for a few teams, not just the Lakers and basically every team missed out on the chance to bring him in. Now Whiteside looks to be a huge part of the Miami Heat’s future and will be in line for a nice raise once his contract runs out.
The Lakers would obviously love to have Whiteside patrolling the paint and controlling the boards in purple and gold, but that simply wasn’t meant to be. The Lakers will now need to focus on the draft or free agency to find their next great big man.
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