Make of this what we will.
But, hours before free agency officially opens -- at 12:01 a.m. Eastern time Friday -- The Vertical is already reporting that the Dallas Mavericks are "emerging as the frontrunner" for Hassan Whiteside, and the Heat has "lost ground on him."
Teams are not allowed to contact players from other teams, or their representatives, until after midnight.
So what is this about?
Well, at the very least, the Mavericks must be making it known to the media that they will offer a maximum contract; that's why you have seen reports to that effect. The Heat is not as comfortable with that. Miami seems to be taking somewhat of a passive-aggressive approach here, preparing an offer of less than the max with the intention of upping it, if someone else actually presents a max offer.
This is a dangerous game, since unlike with restricted free agents who sign offer sheets elsewhere, Whiteside is an unrestricted free agent who doesn't need to give the Heat the last word. He also doesn't take especially well to being slighted, even if slighted in this case still means a $20 million annual salary for someone who has never made $1 million and was in Lebanon not long ago.
But maybe the Heat is OK with him walking.
It sure seems that way.
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