There were plenty of suitors for Hassan Whiteside‘s talents this free agency, but his heart was always with one. After meeting with Pat Riley and the Miami Heat, Whiteside has decided to stay in South Beach and come back to the team, agreeing to a $98 million max deal with the team.
He announced the news via The Player’s Tribune, saying he didn’t want to play for a ninth team after playing for eight throughout the course of his career.
“I have decided to re-sign with Miami. I just wanted to take this time to tell all the fans how much you mean to this team, and to me.
Can’t wait to get back to work and try to bring another championship to Miami. #HeatNation”
His new contract will pay him about 100 times more than what he made last season, after his breakout with the Heat in the past two seasons. Whiteside had stints in China and the D-League before signing with Miami and becoming one the leagues most dominating centers.
How this affects Dwyane Wade‘s contract negotiations remain to be seen. He and the Heat have been reported to be apart in the figures, with Wade wanting to get paid for sacrificing a lot for the team in past seasons and the organization not having enough money to give him.
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