Report: Mike Conley, Hassan Whiteside emerge as Mavs’ top free agent targets

Dallas Buyers Club is apparently more than just an Oscar-winning film.

According to a report by Tim MacMahon of ESPN on Thursday, Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley and Heat center Hassan Whiteside have emerged as the Dallas Mavericks’ top-two targets in free agency this offseason.

The Mavericks have fairly large voids at both positions, having trotted out the bizarro trio of Deron Williams, Raymond Felton, and Devin Harris at the 1 last year. Meanwhile, Zaza Pachulia was surprisingly decent for the first half of the season as the Mavs’ fill-in starting center after DeAndre Jordan hoodwinked them, but quickly lost head coach Rick Carlisle’s trust after the All-Star break.

Conley is a superb defensive point guard and Whiteside is the league’s premier shot-blocking center. This could signal a heavier focus by the Mavs on the defensive end of the floor where they ranked 16th in points allowed per 100 possessions last season, per NBA.com.

Cashing in on those targets will be a different story, however. While Dallas will have more than enough cap room to go around this summer, both Conley and Whiteside look like near-locks for max deals. The Mavericks won’t be running unopposed either as Conley reportedly wants to stay in Memphis if the team surrounds him with the right pieces, while Heat president Pat Riley has publicly stated that retaining Whiteside is Miami’s top concern this offseason.

With the vultures beginning to knock on the door of aging Mavs lifer Dirk Nowitzki, the Mavericks’ priorities are definitely in the right place as they appear to be continuing their active efforts to contend.