Report: Mavericks emerging as front-runner for Whiteside

Unrestricted free-agent center Hassan Whiteside may be readying himself to take his talents from South Beach to the Lone Star State.

The Dallas Mavericks are emerging as a front-runner to sign the 27-year-old big man, sources told The Vertical's Adrian Wojnarowski.

The Miami Heat have reportedly lost ground in their attempt to re-sign him.

Dallas, Miami, and the Portland Trail Blazers are reportedly the three squads Whiteside is set to meet with July 1, and the only true contenders to potentially sign him.

Landing Whiteside would be a quality get for a Mavs organization that DeAndre Jordan spurned last summer when he backed out of a verbal agreement and returned to the Los Angeles Clippers.

He's expected to garner upward of $94 million over four years on a max contract if he finds a new home, which would be a substantial financial gain after making under $1 million each of the past two seasons.

Whiteside averaged a double-double of 14.2 points and 11.8 rebounds (third in NBA), along with a league-leading 3.7 rejections in 73 appearances last season for a 48-34 Heat squad which got within one game of the Eastern Conference finals.