There are rumors that Hassan Whiteside is available in the market right now but the Miami Heat has refuted the speculations, saying that they are not "actively looking to trade" last season's NBA blocks leader.

Oregon Live reported earlier in the week that virtually everyone in the Heat squad is available right now as Miami seems to be "shifting into rebuild mode". The report cited ESPN's Zach Lowe as the source of the rumor.

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When asked who among the Heat players are available in the market at the moment, Lowe reportedly said in his podcast that "literally no one is untouchable, not even Hassan Whiteside, by a long shot".

Whiteside, 27, signed a four-year, $98 million deal with the Heat last summer, which earns him and average annual wage of $24.6 million. With his current salary, any trade deals are said to be a long shot at this time.

The former Marshall standout is one of the best centers in the NBA right now, averaging 17.2 points (fifth among centers), 14.3 rebounds (league-leading), and 2.2 blocks (fifth in the NBA). This means that he is valuable enough to attract the interest of other teams despite his salary.

A lot of teams are linked to Whiteside as the NBA trade deadline draws near, including the Portland Trail Blazers, which he said was his second option during last summer's free-agency, Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks, and Boston Celtics.

However, the Miami Herald indicated that the Heat has clarified their position on Whiteside and that a "spokesman made it clear Tuesday night Miami isn't actively looking to trade its $98 million center".

The spokesperson admitted, though, that the club is "listening" to offers from interested teams.

Whiteside seemed unaffected by the rumors as he told reporters before Tuesday night's game against the Golden State Warriors that "nothing really changes" when it comes to his approach to the game.

"Nothing really changes for me," said Whiteside. "Still come in, rebound and dominate like I've been doing. Nothing really changes."

He finished the game with 28 points and 20 rebounds.

"I never really pay attention to (trade rumors). 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," he added.

TagsNBA Trade Rumors, NBA Trade Rumors 2017, Hassan Whiteside, Miami Heat, Miami Heat trade rumors