Mavericks' silent free-agency start needs this simple but brilliant answer

The Dallas Mavericks didn't make a single move on the first day of free agency, and it was pretty quiet around the league as well. LeBron James is leaving the Los Angeles Lakers in free agency, and Kawhi Leonard was traded to the Toronto Raptors, but there weren't really any big signings on Monday night.

The Mavericks should end the silence by signing Moussa Cisse

The Mavericks were silent despite having the full mid-level exception to play with, and the first move that they should make on the second day of free agency is to sign Moussa Cisse to a multi-year deal. This should be a no-brainer after seeing how well he played last season as a rookie. He has already proven he belongs with high-impact outings, and the least the Mavericks can do is guarantee that he'll spend a few more seasons in Dallas.

They've already extended a qualifying offer to Cisse, meaning that they can match any offer that he signs in free agency this summer, but they shouldn't risk this.

Cisse was too valuable for them last season to let him slip away after just one season, and the Mavericks should lock him down by signing him to a standard contract. He quickly outplayed his two-way deal last season, averaging 4.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks in just 13.9 minutes per contest, and his energy, rim protection, and athleticism helped make him a fan favorite right away.

He runs the floor as hard as anyone on the team, and his motor helps him significantly on both ends of the floor. Cisse never takes a play off, and he doesn't get enough credit for how hard he plays at all times.

Teams around the league are always looking for this type of big man, and he won't stay under the radar long. Cisse's rookie season was just the tip of the iceberg. He still has a lot of room to grow, and the Mavs shouldn't risk allowing him to do this on another team.

Teams around the league will be wondering how they didn't sign Cisse this summer, especially if he has a Moussa Diabate-type career arc. This would be a dream come true for the Mavericks, and they'd be looking like geniuses for signing him.

Having players on cost-controlled contracts is the name of the game in today's NBA, and this is exactly what they'd have with Cisse if they sign him sooner rather than later.

Cisse needs to be part of Dallas' young core

Cisse has real potential to develop into a solid rotation piece, and Dallas should bet on this potential by signing him to a new contract today.

Their center rotation is already looking thin next year due to Dereck Lively II's injury lengthy injury recovery, and they can't count on just Daniel Gafford and Morez Johnson Jr. to start the season. Cisse needs to be part of this group, and signing him to another contract would give him a few more years to develop in Dallas under Dusty May. The former Michigan Wolverines coach has a long history of developing his big men, and Cisse should be his next project.

This may not be the flashy move that fans are begging for, but it makes far too much sense to ignore. Dallas would be locking down a player who was extremely impactful last season for a low price, and he fits Masai Ujiri's vision for the team. They don't want to skip any steps when building this roster around Cooper Flagg, and signing a player who was part of Flagg's rookie year would be a simple move that could pan out extremely quickly.

A young frontcourt of Flagg, Cisse, Dereck Lively II, and Morez Johnson Jr. is a good foundation, and Dallas shouldn't risk having another team pay Cisse by signing him soon. This is the type of signing that wouldn't be making headlines right away, but the value would shine through quickly.

Cisse should get real minutes for the Mavericks next season, especially if they trade Daniel Gafford, and this is the type of slept-on move that could quickly turn into a home run over time.

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