The Dallas Mavericks have finally caught a break after weeks of frustration for their fans. On Thursday morning, the team signed former Maverick Moses Brown to a 10-day contract. Due to salary cap constraints, they cannot offer a veteran’s minimum deal until the end of March.
Brown will bring much-needed rim protection and provide a lob threat, showing improvement in finishing around the basket. However, he isn’t the most versatile big man, and while he appears stronger since his 26-game stint with the Mavericks in the 2021-22 season, it’s unlikely he will single-handedly change the team’s fortunes.
He serves as a short-term solution, particularly as Anthony Davis progresses in his recovery from a left adductor strain. Davis is set for a re-evaluation in two weeks, and while many assumed he’d be out until playoff time, this update suggests he could return by early to mid-March.
5 Centers Dallas Should Have Targeted Instead of Moses Brown
The Mavericks will still have to navigate the next two weeks without Davis, Daniel Gafford, and Dereck Lively II. Additionally, there’s no set timetable for Dwight Powell’s return from a hip strain. Given their depleted frontcourt, Dallas should have sought out the best temporary center option while awaiting a fully healthy roster.
Brown is an intriguing 25-year-old with impressive length, but his offensive game remains unproven. Several other free-agent bigs might have been better fits for the Mavericks. With that in mind, here are five centers the team could have signed instead of Brown.
5. Robin Lopez
At 36, Robin Lopez could have provided valuable veteran experience to a Mavericks squad already leaning toward experience. Lopez has been without a team since the 2024 trade deadline after being waived by the Sacramento Kings. Despite this, he remains a physical presence known for rebounding and setting solid screens.
While he may not be as effective as his twin brother Brook, Lopez’s size and basketball IQ would have made him a useful addition. Over the past few seasons, he even developed a respectable three-point shot, which could have benefited a Dallas team lacking floor-stretching bigs. Though his rim protection has declined, his experience and skill set might have made him a better choice than Brown.
4. Armando Bacot
Armando Bacot became a fan favorite during March Madness and has since been excelling in the G League. At 6-foot-10, he brings physicality and solid touch around the rim. While not an elite shot-blocker, he has improved in key areas that previously concerned scouts.
Had Bacot declared for the NBA Draft a few years earlier, he likely would have been selected. However, his lack of a three-point shot and defensive quickness hurt his stock, especially given that he was already 24 at the time of last year’s draft. Recently, he has shown improved shooting for the Memphis Hustle and has demonstrated increased defensive versatility, averaging 1.1 steals and 1.4 blocks per game in 16 G League appearances this season. Given these developments, Dallas could have taken a low-risk chance on him instead of opting for a more familiar option like Brown.
3. Udoka Azubuike
Like Brown, Udoka Azubuike remains largely unproven, but he has had fewer opportunities and has showcased more translatable NBA skills. At roughly 7 feet and 270 pounds, Azubuike is an imposing presence with impressive athleticism for his size. Most bigs with his frame struggle with explosiveness, but he excels as a lob threat and rim protector.
While Azubuike isn’t an elite athlete by NBA standards, his combination of post moves, rebounding ability, and solid touch still make him an intriguing option. He had his best NBA stretch with the Utah Jazz in 2021-22, averaging 4.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 0.6 blocks in just 11.5 minutes per game across 17 contests.
Currently playing for Budućnost VOLI in Montenegro, Azubuike is competing in a strong league despite not being in the EuroLeague’s top tier. He has delivered solid performances in six games alongside former Mavericks McKinley Wright IV and Yogi Ferrell.
2. James Wiseman
Former No. 2 overall pick James Wiseman, recently waived by the Toronto Raptors, has the highest potential of anyone on this list. He would have been a far more intriguing option for Dallas than Brown. Coming out of college, Wiseman was seen as a prototype modern two-way center, possessing elite athleticism at 6-foot-11 and 250 pounds.
Although he has struggled to develop his face-up game and three-point shot, he remains an effective starting-caliber big man when healthy. His rebounding and defensive abilities make him a potential double-double machine, though injuries have derailed his career.
Wiseman’s setbacks include a torn right meniscus, a sprained ankle, and a full-season absence in 2021-22. After being traded to the Detroit Pistons in 2023, he showed signs of promise but unfortunately tore his Achilles in his first game of the 2024-25 season with the Indiana Pacers.
While he might not have provided immediate help like Brown, Wiseman could be a long-term project for the Mavericks, especially when they regain the flexibility to sign multi-year deals at the end of March.
1. Mo Bamba
Mo Bamba is the most established player on this list and would have been an upgrade over Brown in every aspect. At 26 years old and in his seventh NBA season, Bamba may not have lived up to the hype surrounding the Sheck Wes song named after him, but he remains a reliable two-way big.
This season, he has played 28 games for the LA Clippers, averaging 4.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks in just 12.6 minutes per game. Bamba has grown stronger since entering the league, which has helped him improve as a rim protector.
However, his offensive game hasn’t expanded much, and his three-point shooting remains inconsistent. Despite this, he possesses all the physical tools to be a solid bench player and is a better rebounder and overall defender than he was in his early years.
Even if Bamba never fully realizes his potential, he is a more polished and effective player than Brown. Given that the two are similar in age, Bamba would have been the superior choice for Dallas.
