Whiteside top free agent priority for Heat?

With free agency coming up this summer, there has been questions about whether the Heat will want to bring back center Hassan Whiteside. With the Heat having 37 million available in cap space, they'll have to make decisions on Wade, Deng,Johnson, and Whiteside. Paying Whiteside the max and Wade would limit the Heat in pursuing other free agents. Because of this, there were times it look as if they'll consider letting Whiteside walk instead.

Yesterday, Heat president Pat Riley sounded like a guy who is willing to do whatever it takes to bring Hassan Whiteside back.

"I've never been around that kind of turnaround. We've had some players that we've opened our eyes up on but I think what Hassan did, last year and what he's doing now, his level of play now, it's just all about more experience, more experience, more reps, understanding how important he is to us.

"In my 50 years in the NBA, I've never seen that kind of phenomenon. I know that's hurting me right now as far as his free agency goes, complimenting him.  But he's really grown a lot(Barry Jackson, Miami Herald)."

Whiteside has been playing off the bench since February with Amare starting. He probably doesn't like it, but hasn't made a big deal about it. He's still the defensive force he was at the beginning of the season and has made improvements in different areas (free throw shooting and Screen setting).

Whiteside, averaging 13.5 ppg 11.7rebs with 3.8 blks, is in the final year of his 981K deal.