Over the last 8 games, the Heat are -42 with Whiteside in the game. He's averaging 11 points and 8.6 rebounds, along with 2.5 blocks. He has also missed three games, one due to suspension.
To me, that's not a Bill Russell impact, and it's not worth three #1s.
17 points, 15 rebounds, 4 blocks per 36 minutes. 26.4 PER.
Top 10 in Defensive Plus/Minus among Centers, 11th in Real Plus/Minus among Centers. His Block % is better than Rudy Gobert, who leads the league in Block % right now only because Whiteside did not played enough games to qualify for the spot. His rebounding rate is BETTER than DeAndre Jordan, who leads the league in Rebounding % only because, again, he didn't have enough games.
Is that Bill Russell? Of course not. But is that Bill Russell impact, if it isn't, it's pretty darn close. Definitely worth three #1's.
11 points, 9.8 rebounds, 2.5 blocks in
22 minutes (22 MINUTES) per game. A center who posts that kind of numbers in 30+ minutes per game will be highly coveted if he's a free agent. And here he is, doing it on significantly less time on the floor. Heck, he had 7 points, 8 rebounds, 2 blocks in 12 minutes before he injured his hand against Milwaukee.
That per 36 stat, you give it on player x and there will be arguments that he will be worth three 1st, but Whiteside isn't?
And for the "the league figured him out". Yeah, they figured him out. He's still averaging a double-double and 2-3 blocks per game. What happens if he figures out the league?