Looking at the current roster of the Miami Heat, it is safe to say that center Hassan Whiteside is the only emerging player with the possibility of leading the team composed mostly of young'uns.

Whiteside signed a new four-year contract with the Heat worth $98 million, a deal which cements Heat's commitment to the 27-year-old big man.

Like Us on Facebook

It is worth noting, though, that this amount comes with a huge responsibility as well. Pat Riley will be looking up to Whiteside to provide the backbone of the Heat's gameplay on both ends of the floor, especially now that Chris Bosh's return is highly unlikely.

In an interview with Heat Zone, Heat coach Eric Spoelstra said, "Now what he [Whiteside] can focus on is a clear mind and absolutely just helping a team win."

"That's what it's all about now. It's not about a contract anymore, it's not about numbers anymore," the Filipino-American coach continued. "It's about winning."

Since the Heat's acquisition of Whiteside during the 2014-2015 season, the towering center an average of 13.3 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 3.2 blocks per game while clocking an impressive 30 minutes average playing time.

Many sports analysts will agree that Whiteside indeed has a lot of potential. However, with just 140 NBA games under his belt, he is still considered young in terms of experience.

Perhaps the biggest question now is whether Whiteside has the tenacity to fulfill the role the Heat organization has given him. 

Much of the Heat's roster are expected to look up to him as the focal point of the team, and should he fail to step into the shoes of a leader, then the Heat might be in a very bad shape this season.

TagsMiami Heat, Hassan Whiteside, Miami, NBA, NBA news