Mavericks' desperate search for center depth just led them to a pot of gold

There's no doubt that this start to the season for the Dallas Mavericks has been one straight out of hell in these first 10 games. Not only has the team gotten off to a 3-7 start, but injuries have played a huge role in the team's historically slow start; however, this hasn't stopped them from finding players in the dirt.

From Naji Marshall's 30-point masterclass on Saturday night to help defeat the Washington Wizards on the second night of a back-to-back, to Brandon Williams' excellent performance off the bench against the Indiana Pacers earlier in the year, the Mavericks have been full of surprises when it comes to their lineup, and against the Wizards, Jason Kidd gave two-way signee Moussa Cisse the shot of a lifetime.

When the Mavericks signed Cisse to a two-way contract just a few weeks after training camp tipped off, it truly didn't come as a surprise to many fans, as he was the only two-way eligible player the Mavericks had on their active roster at the time. Not only was Cisse the clear-cut final roster spot winner, but during preseason, the former Memphis Tiger flashed the ability of looking like a bright young stud on the defensive end of the floor, and in one of his first true NBA tests, he proved that.

Mavericks could have uncovered a gem in Cisse at the perfect time

On Saturday night, Kidd handed Cisse some of his first real NBA minutes with both Dereck Lively II and Anthony Davis sidelined with their respective issues, as well as Dwight Powell cooling down after his hot start. With 19 minutes off the bench, Cisse would deliver a powerful punch on the defensive end, which would help the Mavericks top the Wizards 111-105 after a three-block performance out of the rookie.

Not only was Cisse's strong defensive performance an indicator that he could impact the Mavericks roster as soon as this season, but on the offensive end, he became a reliable paint finisher with the ball in his hands. Cisse finished his night with five points and nine rebounds, as well as those three game-changing blocks.

There's no doubt that Cisse's strong suit was on the defensive side of the floor when he came into the league, but even with that in mind, the rookie flashed the ability to create baskets on his own. On one possession, Cisse was handed a grenade in the paint where he would back down Alex Sarr and drop a hammer of a dunk over the second-year player.

While fans wish to see more of Cisse in the future and more in particular on the offensive side of the floor, the former college standout may have just done enough to earn him some legit playing time while Lively II remains out. This season has provided the Mavericks with an opportunity to focus on their young players if things truly go south, and Cisse could be at the top of that list to receive more minutes if he continues to make a name for himself.

With that in mind, it's still essential to maintain a level head when it comes to two-way players, considering it remains improbable that they will receive another contract with the Mavericks (this season). Even still, Cisse's strong performance proved to plenty of doubters that he may have what it takes to be an impactful player in his rookie season.

The Mavericks are still a long way away from reeling their season back into one where it's salvageable, but with young players stepping up on a nightly basis in Dallas, the Mavericks could be in store for a midseason run if trades fall their way.