The Knicks took a shot at landing a reserve big man on the cheap. At that price, Dallas decided to keep him.
The Mavericks will match the Knicks’ offer sheet to restricted free agent Moussa Cisse, his agents told Shams Charania of ESPN. Dallas could have waited until Monday but apparently just went now.
This isn’t a surprise, considering how little this was going to cost. The offer sheet was for two years at the minimum ($2.2 million this season, $2.6 million for 2027-28), but that is reportedly only partially guaranteed for this season ($1.1 million, but he would have to be waived by Oct. 1, just after the start of training camp, or it’s guaranteed for the season) and non-guaranteed for next season.
Cisse, a 6’11” center, showed promise last season, starting on an Exhibit 10 contract, then being converted to a two-way contract for the season. He was a regular part of the Mavericks’ big man rotation for a stretch last season and averaged 4.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game in the 38 games he played.
With Cisse on the roster, Dallas is up to a full 15 players with guaranteed contracts on the roster. Dallas is stacked with big men — Cisse joins Dereck Lively II, Daniel Gafford, P.J. Washington, Santi Aldama and just drafted Morez Johnson Jr. There are reports Dallas is open to trading Gafford and Washington.
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