Dallas Mavericks To Target Hassan Whiteside, Mike Conley In NBA Free Agency

Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

The start of NBA free agency is only about a week away with teams allowed to begin talking to players on July 1. The Dallas Mavericks will be among the teams in the league hoping to drastically upgrade their roster, and they’ve already set their sights on two of the best players set to be on the open market.

According to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon and Marc Stein, the Mavericks intend to pursue arguably the best center available in Hassan Whiteside of the Miami Heat:

The Dallas Mavericks expect to be granted a meeting in the opening hours of free agency with Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside, one of the Mavericks’ two primary targets this summer, sources told ESPN.com.

Along with their pursuit of Whiteside to bolster the frontcourt, Dallas will be targeting a considerable backcourt upgrade. Pursuing point guard Mike Conley will be a top priority as well, via ESPN:

Memphis Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley is the other top target for the Mavs, according to sources, as Dallas attempts to construct a core that will allow the franchise to be competitive during veteran Dirk Nowitzki’s twilight and beyond.

Going after Conley and Whiteside in free agency won’t be the only order of business for the Mavericks as the team also plans to re-sign superstar Dirk Nowitzki. The German import recently opted out of his deal with Dallas and will reportedly be pursued by the Golden State Warriors.

Nowitzki has said on many occasions that he wants to return to the Mavericks, but may find the allure of playing for a championship in the Bay Area in potentially his final season being too good to pass up on.