Mavericks clearly signed the wrong rookie as nightmare season rages on

With the Dallas Mavericks just eager to get to the 2026 NBA Draft, the Mavs are suffering from a bad decision that was made prematurely, and there's no way they can get out of it. The Mavs decided to convert point guard Ryan Nembhard's two-way contract to a standard deal instead of big man Moussa Cisse.

Cisse has not only played better, but has also been more efficient than Nembhard.

Nembhard looked to be an instant home run early in the season, but some flaws in his game could have some Mavs fans starting the "what-if" game. The Mavericks do need some point guard depth after Tyus Jones was waived, but Nembhard has almost fallen off since his honeymoon days at the beginning of the season. He's no longer the lights-out shooter with limitless confidence that Dallas fans fell in love with.

Matt Riccardi and Michael Finley were the ones to put pen to paper for Nembhard's two-year standard deal. They might've made their first questionable decision, as Cisse's minutes are proving to be far better than Nembhard over a longer stretch.

Mavericks should've signed Moussa Cisse to a standard contract

Cisse is still on a two-way contract. With that, he can only be active in 50 games. He's already used up 46 of his eligible 50, and instead of signing him and getting to play him every game, Jason Kidd has to be selective about when he plays.

Cisse was already outperforming his two-way contract in the first half of the season. Getting more minutes and playing consistently is now the next goal for him, as he's already proven to be a strong player scoring around the basket.

This would be a natural next step, but Dallas can only use him in four more games since they signed Nembhard instead of him.

He used to be only a shot-blocking threat in college, but has grown offensively by learning to catch and finish lobs better. His motor and energy are right there, and he's done everything he's been asked to earn a standard contract.

Not signing him is one thing, but the fact that the Mavs signed Nembhard instead of Cisse, who's done more in fewer minutes at times, is a headscratcher.

Mavericks might've pulled the trigger on Ryan Nembhard too soon

Nembhard was a home run early this season, and in fact, he looked like a hidden gem back in the Summer League, looking confident with his shooting and passing. Since then, he hasn't been as involved as he once was.

Nembhard is playing just 13.8 minutes per game in March, and has only played in garbage time in Dallas' last two games. The Mavericks' decision to sign him should've resulted in him getting a chance to prove to the front office that he deserves to stick around long-term. Instead, he's been sent to the end of the bench with no explanation on a tanking team.

Brandon Williams is a guard who has worked from scratch to get where he is. He has earned everything he has gotten, and looks to be a solid backup when Kyrie Irving gets back. Nembhard may be secured for the future, but his defense and 5-foot-11 stature are concerns in the NBA.

There's no doubt he has plenty of ability to be a shot creator and distribute to his teammates, but he has to get into a more consistent stretch of doing those things. Everything he's gotten to this point has been earned, but if we're comparing who should've gotten the standard contract, the former Memphis big man should have one.