NBA: Ranking all 30 starting centers for 2018-19

16. Hassan Whiteside, Miami Heat

Putting Hassan Whiteside here is a risk in and of itself, not only because the Miami Heat were at their best with either Kelly Olynyk or Bam Adebayo at the 5 last year, but also because Whiteside and the organization seem to be ready to part ways.

As much as Whiteside would be Miami’s preferred trade candidate, getting rid of the remaining two years and $52.5 million on his contract may be next to impossible. Whiteside’s value hasn’t been this low at any point since signing his new deal, and even if the Heat are dead-set on shipping him elsewhere, they’d have to revive his trade value first.

As such, Whiteside is the most likely candidate to start at the 5 for the majority of next season, even as he’s continually played off the floor by the fourth quarter. It’s bizarre that it’s come to this, especially for a guy who posted 14.0 points, 11.4 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game last year, but it just goes to show that counting stats aren’t everything in the modern NBA.