Team: Whiteside not on market

Center doesn’t ‘pay attention’ to trade rumors.

OAKLAND, CALIF. — Hassan Whiteside isn’t worried about all of the trade rumors surrounding the Miami Heat. And now the rumors are starting to include Whiteside’s name.

“I think the Heat are open for business,” ESPN’s Zach Lowe said on his podcast this week. “Up and down the roster, literally every player. Literally no one is untouchable, not even Hassan Whiteside, by a long shot.”

But Whiteside insists that stuff doesn’t bother him.

“I never really pay attent i o n t o ( t r a d e r u mors ) , ” Whi t e s i d e s a i d T u e s d ay before Miami’s 107-95 loss to Golden St ate. “If I pay attention to it, I wouldn’t be back in the league. “There’s all kinds of rumors. A lot of people said a lot of things so I wouldn’t get back in the league. So I don’t pay it no mind.”

Whiteside is not available on the trade market, according to a Heat spokesman. The Heat are listening to offers t hat c ome t hei r way l i ke most teams, but they aren’t actively shopping their $98 million center.

Li s te ni ng to of fe r s a nd actively shopping a player are two different things. The Heat spokesman made it clear the team has not made Whiteside available for trade.

Whiteside is averaging 17.5 points and a league-leading 14.4 rebounds this season. But those numbers haven’t led to too many wins this season, as the Heat have the NBA’s second-worst record at 11-29.

“Nothing really changes for me,” said Whiteside, who had 28 points and 20 rebounds in the loss to the Warriors. “Still come in, rebound and dominate like I’ve been doing. Nothing really changes.”