Ever since the Dallas Mavericks won the championship, they have had a craving for a top shelf anchor in the middle that could defend, block shots, rebound, and finish lobs in the paint. With the controversial 2011 free agency departure of Tyson Chandler (a move that is still hotly debated until this day), the Mavs had a revolving door of centers that attempted to fill that void but largely failed.

They even traded for Chandler back only to let him walk again in favor of going after the younger version in DeAndre Jordan — a move that will live on in South Texas infamy. The search continued with Zaza Pachulia, Andrew Bogut, and now the present incarnation in Nerlens Noel – whose stay hasn’t turned out as well as they hoped, with the cat-like athletic center getting only spot-up minutes to scouring the stands for hot dogs.

Now with free agency just around the corner, the Mavs are apparently on the lookout for a big man yet again… and according to Mike Fisher of 247 Sports, the search might take them to a familiar face — Hassan Whiteside of the Miami Heat.

The 6-foot-11 big man spurned the Mavs two years ago to stay with the Heat and word around the street is that they are open to acquiring Whiteside as long as certain conditions are met.

He’s still got a place. And yes, if certain “sweeteners” were part of the deal, the Mavericks, I’m told by NBA people close to the situation, could still have a place for him.

But with the Heat lacking any picks or available young talent, it would likely take a third team to make this happen.