A: This is an excellent question, and thank you for asking. Typically, when re-signing your own free agent, you are allowed to exceed the salary cap. That is not the case with Hassan, since he has been with the Heat only two seasons and lacks Bird Rights. So the money spent for him, at his $22 million maximum for 2016-17, could be spent on any other free agent with the same impact to the Heat's payroll. Or, for that matter, the $22 million maximum that could be extended to Hassan can be used as cap space to take on a player in a trade. So the real question that should be asked is this and only this: Is $22 million on Hassan Whiteside the best expenditure for your payroll for 2016-17? For that matter, would passing on Whiteside and taking on a player on a one-year contract in a trade the better use of such space until you know about Chris Bosh's prognosis? You only spend $22 million on Hassan Whiteside if you believe that is the best use of such funding among all the 200 or so free agents on the market and the countless other players who could be acquired with such cap space.