Whiteside vs Drummond
Dec 22, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond (0) drives to the basket as Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (21) defends the play during the first half at American Airlines Arena. Reuters/Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Two big men are set to get paid big time after the 2015-2016 offseason, namely Andre Drummond of the Detroit Pistons and Hassan Whiteside of the Miami Heat.

Both centres, who are currently playing in their fourth NBA seasons, are known for skills that makes them two of the elite big men in the league; ability to finish around the rim with their athleticism and shot-blocking presence that will discourage the opposition from attacking the paint.

Drummond is a restricted free agent, which means that teams interested in the 22-year-old centre have to outbid the Pistons and convince him that leaving Detroit is a better option. Any team can offer Drummond a contract, most likely the maximum deal possible, but the Pistons can match any offer and retain his services.

Meanwhile, Whiteside is an unrestricted free agent. If the 26-year-old centre chooses to sign with another NBA squad, the Heat have no choice but to let him go and get nothing in return—assuming there are no sign-and-trades agreed.

Both Drummond and Whiteside are pegged to be highly-coveted when free agency starts in the 2016 offseason.

Below is the list of top free agents and their numbers in the current season from the centre position in the 2016 free agency:

Jefferson
Dec 13, 2014; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Hornets center Al Jefferson (25) wears an I Cant Breathe shirt before the game against the Brooklyn Nets at Time Warner Cable Arena. Reuters/Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports
Al Jefferson (Charlotte Hornets)

2015-2016 season (19 games): 12.5 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.1 blocked shots in 25.2 minutes per game

Ezeli
May 27, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors center Festus Ezeli (31) dunks as Houston Rockets forward Trevor Ariza (1) looks on during the fourth quarter in game five of the Western Conference Finals of the NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. Reuters/Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Festus Ezeli (Golden State Warriors)

2015-2016 season (33 games): 8.1 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.3 blocked shots in 18.6 minutes per game

Dwight Howard
May 27, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; (Editor's Note: Caption Correction) Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard (12) reacts during the game against the Golden State Warriors in game five of the Western Conference Finals of the NBA Playoffs. at Oracle Arena. Reuters/Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Dwight Howard (Houston Rockets)

2015-2016 season (31 games): 14.1 points, 11.9 rebounds and 1.6 blocked shots in 33.0 minutes per game

Whiteside
Dec 20, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (21) celebrates after scoring in the second half against the Portland Trailblazers at American Airlines Arena. Reuters/Robert Duyos-USA TODAY Sports
Hassan Whiteside (Miami Heat)

2015-2016 season (36 games): 12.1 points, 11.1 rebounds and 3.8 blocked shots in 28.9 minutes per game

Drummond
Oct 28, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond (0) celebrates during the fourth quarter against the Utah Jazz at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Pistons won 92-87. Reuters/Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Andre Drummond (Detroit Pistons)

2015-2016 season (37 games): 18.1 points, 15.6 rebounds and 1.5 blocked shots in 34.5 minutes per game

Other centres available after the 2015-2016 season are Joakim Noah (Chicago Bulls), Roy Hibbert (Los Angeles Lakers), Donatas Motiejunas (Houston Rockets), Zaza Pachulia (Dallas Mavericks), Timofey Mozgov (Cleveland Cavaliers), Nene (Washington Wizards), Tyler Zeller (Boston Celtics), Ian Mahinmi (Indiana Pacers) and Gorgui Dieng (Minnesota Timberwolves), among others.

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