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2016 NBA Trade Deadline: 10 Players Teams Should Absolutely Avoid

By Gerald Bourguet

Nov 1, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (21) during the second half against the Houston Rockets at American Airlines Arena. The Heat won 109-89. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 1, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (21) during the second half against the Houston Rockets at American Airlines Arena. The Heat won 109-89. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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NBA Trade Deadline
Jan 19, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (21) celebrates against the Milwaukee Bucks at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Robert Duyos-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Hassan Whiteside

We’ve reached our first surprise on the list, at least for those who check box scores rather than watch the actual games. Yes, Hassan Whiteside is averaging a league-leading 3.9 blocks per game this season, which would put him in an elite list of player — including Hakeem Olajuwon, David Robinson and Dikembe Mutombo — to ever average that many blocks for a whole season.

But the Miami Heat‘s defense is actually better without him on the floor, he’s a limited offensive player and his FAR too cocky for a player on a $981,348 salary. Whiteside is heading for a big payday this summer, but there’s a reason Miami may have considered trading him to avoid overpaying for his services in free agency this summer.

Simply put, Whiteside is a head case. What do you think throwing a max contract at a personality like that is going to do? He’s only 26 years old and is averaging a respectable 12.2 points, 11.0 rebounds and 3.9 blocks per game, so the appeal is pretty evident.

But from his frequent on-court scuffles to his lack of remorse following those events to the stories about his pride, Whiteside is a risky acquisition.

All this is before you consider that his minimum salary makes it difficult to navigate a trade that deals equal salary AND talent, or that the Heat don’t own his Bird Rights, which means any team could sign him for the same max amount Miami — or whatever team trades for him — could offer.

Next: No. 4