Hassan Whiteside Doesn’t Deserve A Max Contract
There’s a reason why Hassan Whiteside didn’t make it in the NBA until he was 25 – and it’s not because he wasn’t talented.
For Hassan, the size, shot-blocker skills and athletic ability was always there. It’s not something that he just learned overnight. Problem is, his maturity wasn’t. And it took him quite a while, with the help of the Miami Heat, to figure things out.
With that said, this is not necessarily saying that he’s “got it” yet.
Whiteside was playing for a max contract before – he’s been playing on a minimum deal for the past two years for the Heat. What will he be playing for once he gets his money? Will he still be as hungry as he was before?
Will he continue to want to prove everyone wrong? That’s the biggest question when it comes to Whiteside. He has all the tools to become a great big man in the game. Question is, if he doesn’t have the mentality and desire to do so, he will never reach his potential.
Can you trust him?
Next: So...Who Do You Max Out?