Dallas Has “Emerged as Serious Suitor” for Hassan Whiteside

With Hassan Whiteside set to hit free agency in Miami, could the young big man find a new home in Dallas, Texas?

Rumors have circled over the past week around teams being interested in the big man’s services come July 1st with the Dallas Mavericks being in hot pursuit. With Chandler Parsons, Deron Williams, and others hitting free agency in Dallas, the Mavericks have supposedly turned their attention to Hassan Whiteside and Mike Conley.

Whiteside finished last season averaging nearly 14 points, 12 rebounds, and an astounding 3.7 blocks per game, thus helping him earn All-Defensive Second Team honors. Still just 27 years old, Whiteside will find plenty of teams begging for his services this summer.

But as Dallas fans know, being interested in a player and there being mutual interest is two different categories. According to the Miami Herald, Dallas could be more than just another team interested in his services.

“The Dallas Mavericks have emerged as a serious suitor for Heat center Hassan Whiteside, who becomes a free agent on July 1. ESPN Dallas reported on Thursday that Dallas expects to be granted a meeting with Whiteside in the opening hours of free agency.”

The fact that the Miami Herald is reporting the Mavericks being “serious suitors” is something that can at least be encouraging to Mavericks fans hoping to land the big fella. With the tricky cap situation in Miami, Dallas can offer right at the same amount of money that Miami can offer him this summer.

If the money is the same, Whiteside might look to stay on South Beach though.

“That friend said Whiteside prefers to stay with the Heat if all things are equal financially.”

But with the Miami Heat being mentioned yesterday as one of the teams being granted sit down meetings with Kevin Durant at the beginning of free agency, Whiteside could have to wait on Durant before he makes a decision.

“It appears the Heat wants to determine whether it has a chance to sign Durant before proceeding with Hassan Whiteside, who is lining up meetings (with Dallas and potentially others) shortly after the start of free agency.” –Miami Herald

Will Whiteside be satisfied with being Plan B in Miami, a team that brought him off the bench for the majority of the year?

Next: What Impact Will A.J. Hammons Make This Season?

If not, we know Mark Cuban will make a heck of a pitch to the young man to come in and be Plan A for the rest of his career.