Mavericks' Moses Brown signing hints at silver lining fans have been waiting for

With the NBA returning to action this week after a needed all-star break, many teams scramble to make the elongated playoff push by signing players to 10-day contracts. The Dallas Mavericks are no different with their desperate need for a center after losing every rostered five on the team to injuries aside from two-way player Kylor Kelley.

After signing Moses Brown on Thursday, the Mavericks clearly told the league and their fans how desperate they truly are for center depth. With the way Brown's contract is structured combined with Dallas' cap situation, the Mavericks won't be able to sign anyone else (including signing Brown to another 10-day deal) until April.

This won't be the first time Dallas fans see Brown representing the Mavericks, as he had a short stint with the team during the 2020-21 NBA season, where he would later be waived in the middle of the year.

While Brown's signing is a step in the right direction for the franchise, it also could hint at the possibility of one or more of the Mavericks' centers returning to action sooner than fans realized. Dallas likely wouldn't have limited themselves cap-wise for the rest of the season by signing Brown if they didn't have a good hunch that one of the bigs was returning soon, and this seems to be a major grasp at optimism from the fans ever since the signing.

Mavericks signing Brown hints at others returning from injury soon

There's no doubt Dallas' biggest need over the past few weeks has been size. Despite this, the team miraculously won four of their last five games before heading into the All-Star break.

To some fans, this may look like a good sign, but to most, this was the team desperately looking to make it to the break with a record above .500. Brown's signing not only buys the Mavericks a little time but it's a clear sign Dwight Powell or one of Dallas' bigs may be ready to return to the hardwood soon.

Since the Mavericks can't sign anyone else until April, it seems like Brown's signing will hold them over long enough until one of the bigs returns. Along with Powell setting to ramp up activity toward making a return, Anthony Davis is also set to be re-evaluated in two weeks, which is a major step in the right direction if he can return this season.

Powell may not be the name most fans want to see starting at center, but it's a very likely possibility the fan-favorite could make a return as a starter for an extended period as the team rehabs. It's uncertain when Dereck Lively II will return from his ankle fracture, but Brown's signing and a possible Powell return could be a good sign for the second-year center.

Dallas is in clear win-now mode, which makes these injuries just as bad, but the Mavericks could finally be over the hump of their injury-riddled season. Getting Powell back will feel amazing and will add size to a team desperate for rebounding and defense.

The Mavericks still have a long way to go before they are in the clear of the play-in games, but getting Powell, Davis, and even Lively II back will boost this team's odds as they head into the most important time of the year.

It looks like Brown can't remain a Maverick after his 10-day deal, but with the team not being able to sign another name until April, it looks like the Brown signing was just a move to hold them over until someone gets healthy.