3. Hassan Whiteside
Remember back in 2015 when Hassan Whiteside was just a relative unknown trying to get his 2K rating up? He played with so much energy and effort on both ends because as a guy who had to claw through both the G League and overseas, he knew how precious NBA opportunities were.
Now, after signing a four-year, $98 million contract in the summer of 2016, Whiteside has begun to feel a sense of entitlement with the Miami Heat, having complained on numerous occasions about his lack of playing time while receiving a hefty fine in the process. He’s managed to stay quiet so far this season, but the emergence of Bam Adebayo can’t possibly be good for his psyche.
This is a player who, when locked in, has the potential to be one of the most dominant interior defenders in the league. The problem, though, is Whiteside believes he can be the focal point of Miami’s offensive attack, and his effort levels often wane when he isn’t. He also hasn’t proven so adept at switching pick-and-rolls, a must for all bigs and a large reason the Heat play him less than 30 minutes a night.
You could do a lot worse at the center position than Whiteside, but if a structurally sound organization like the Heat has trouble disciplining him, then unless your team wants to give him 20 shots a night, chances are they won’t be able to either.