The Mavericks will match the Knicks‘ offer sheet for restricted free agent big man Moussa Cisse, according to Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link). Agents Yann Balikouzou and Kevin Bradbury of LIFT Sports Management confirmed Dallas’ decision to Charania.
Under the terms of the offer, Cisse’s salary will be $2,185,116 for the upcoming season and $2,571,895 in 2027/28. However, as we noted earlier, his tax/apron hit for 2026/27 will be $2,449,421, equivalent to a veteran’s minimum for a player with two years of experience (rather than one).
Matching the offer gives Dallas 16 players with standard contracts and 15 that are guaranteed. The team also has a surplus of big men with No. 9 overall pick Morez Johnson Jr. and trade acquisition Santi Aldama joining Dereck Lively II, Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington as options in the middle.
The Mavericks continue to explore trade opportunities involving Gafford that will include some type of value in return, according to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints (Twitter link). Siegel believes Gafford will “likely” be moved based on his conversations at the Las Vegas Summer League.
Cisse will receive a $1.1MM guarantee on his $2.2MM salary for 2026/27 if he remains on Dallas’ roster through September 1, notes Bobby Marks of ESPN (Twitter link). The deal will become fully guaranteed if he’s not waived before October 1.
Because the offer was matched, Cisse cannot be traded without his consent for a full year, and he can’t be dealt to the Knicks under any circumstances during that time. However, Yossi Gozlan of The Third Apron points out that Cisse would be permitted to sign with New York if Dallas opts to waive him (Twitter link).
The Knicks are expected to explore other options in their search for a low-cost big man off the bench. They reportedly reached out to the Pelicans about Yves Missi and the Hornets about Moussa Diabate before extending the offer sheet to Cisse.
Cisse, 23, turned in a promising rookie season after going undrafted out of Memphis last summer. He came to Dallas’ training camp on an Exhibit 10 contract and was promoted to a two-way deal before last season began. He appeared in 38 NBA games, averaging 4.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks in 13.9 minutes per night. He also got into 16 G League contests with the Texas Legends.
Saw that coming. Dallas isn’t letting the Knicks get a hold of any of their guys after Brunson.
BoundingAndAstounding:
This is the way a fan thinks. NBA executives don’t really do business that way. They’re not making financial moves based on some perceived grudge.
Mark Cuban does business that way and he’s flexing his minority stake in this lawsuit.
BoundingAndAstounding:
He’s not making any basketball decisions.
He had a handshake deal he would remain in control of basketball operations. That’s part of this legal action he’s taking.
BoundingAndAstounding:
Yes, but he’s not making any decisions now. So what does any of that have to do with this current situation?
You don’t know that he’s not making any decisions now or has input especially since he started legal actions.
BoundingAndAstounding:
What in the world are you talking about? You’re talking about a lawsuit in which he is suing because he doesn’t have any authority that he was promised. But then you’re saying I don’t know that he doesn’t have any authority. It makes absolutely no sense.
Jesus Christ. It’s not just about the authority he was promised. There are multiple issues involved in this legal action.
I can very easily see Masai conferring with Cuban given everything that’s happening.
Just because you think something is happening one way doesn’t mean it is.
BoundingAndAstounding:
Oh my God, you’re just saying unfounded nonsense. You’re pulling stuff out of the sky literally making it up to try and prove your point. You don’t see that? You’d be the only one who could see Masai conferring with Cuban right now. Masai has his own track record. Why in the world would he be conferring with Cuban? Just utter nonsense.
Because Cuban still owns 27% of the team, ffs.
Why wouldn’t the President of the Basketball Operations confer with the owner that actually brought the team a ring and is in litigation to get his authority back? My god.
BoundingAndAstounding:
Who cares if he owns 27% of the team? Minority owners never have say in decisions. You’re just coming up with some theory based upon nothing. Masai won a ring of his own. Just a dopey argument.
Completely different ownership and front office from that time. I doubt that had any bearing on it whatsoever.
How do you possibly post this article without mentioning what team presented him an offer sheet?
Wow Sparky. You are really on top of things. That team is mentioned in the 1st sentence.
Taj Gibson where ya at?.. In any case this kid Cayden Daughtry is truly special & keeps showing it. Youngster just had a stupid 32pts 7asts w/ 0turnovers (3-5 from trey) in a big semifinal W over Team Herro that places his Florida Rebels squad into the Peach Jam title game tmrw. The masses are starting to notice too… link to youtube.com
Good. Glad to see Moussa back in Dallas. He’s a solid backup big. High energy, good rebounder. If he can cut down on fouls, he can really maximize his earnings
It was a good try. So do we all know Reed signed for 3 mill. But that was too much for Knicks. Rose is a Dolan flunkie . Knicks should have drafted Carr or Reed. Just makes no sense. Carr signed for 3.3 mill.
Shoulda Woulda drafted this guy or that guy. They needed to bring back Ariel immediately when the off-season began. Now just sign Jamison and be done with this off-season. IMO both second round picks should have been bigs. Nickel and Kayill are good players but they don’t need them if they brought back JTA, Shamet and Clarkson. Did the Knicks even try with Looney? Mavs matching was very predictable.
Dolan pays the bills dude. Yea, rose swung and missed with a few things this offseason, but stop acting like he’s done nothing but bad since taking the job and hasn’t gotten the city a damn chip. Stuff happens, season hasn’t started yet. Trades can still happen. Relax.
I DGAF about Dolan. You must be new to this game. He is the reason we waited this long. So get that in your head. He had NOTHING to do with this Chip. This was mostly Thibs doing. The day ALL of you learn and respect that. Is the day you become a true Knicks fans.
I’m no fanboy like most of you here. I know exactly where I stand and where I am in time. And the draft is not something you dismiss over a couple of gran. It’s always a building process. Understanding that means you respect the game and your team. I don’t come here to complain. I come here to speak the truth about the game. So get your head out your ares.
LOL I didn’t say Dolan had anything to do with it. I’m talking about Leon Rose. You need to take a deep breath and get YOUR head out of your…homie. Your whole paragraph of anger was based on you assuming I was talking about Dolan. You over emotional fanatics, like Davey, make real fans embarrassed. Thanks for proving my point. Enjoy the rest of your day.
Paying the bills means nothing. Anger is your word.
And you don’t know what I think about Rose. So stop acting like you do. This is about looking ahead. You may be satisfied with a trophy. But look around you. The season is starting a NEW. And we already blew off the draft. That’s CLASSIC Dolan. Rose is suppose to be here to keep him in chk. Like Thibs did. Not pacify him. Plenty of things we could have done to keep cost down. And still reload. Concentrate on that instead of what you think I’m feeling.
Whatever you say grumps. You’ve been complaining since the day after they won LOL. I’m not satisfied with winning just last year. But I’m not going to lose my head over it either. I’ve got no control over it. Same as you. Stay mad grumpah LOL
You keep bending over for Rose n Dolan. I got my own views. I got your grandpa waiting on you.
And you stay miserable not being able to enjoy anything because youre an emotional lady. Your views are cartoonishly childish and the way you respond to everything gives you away grumps. You, “got my grandpa waiting on you” – what does that even mean? You should probably avoid staying up late grumps, you make even less sense.
Not surprised at all, that Knicks offer was weak and very easy to match. I know the Knicks are crunching numbers, but they could have at least fully guaranteed the whole first year, why bother making an offer if it’s not competitive.
Well, that sucks, tho it’s hardly surprising. Back to the drawing board.
Think about how much this guy saved in taxes! Good for him, good for the Mavericks.
True, but you have no idea how nice it is to not have to worry about the electrical grid going down whenever it’s hot or cold out.
Would’ve been a decent get for the Knicks. No big loss. We’re talking about a backup center who wasn’t going not going to give huge minutes. On to someone else.
Why do the Knicks have so many guards? Are they planning on having them sit on each other’s shoulders to defend the paint?
That’s exactly my. point with the recent draft picks. I have no problem bringing back the guys who help you finally win but why draft more guards.
mlbnyyfan:
When you draft based on position, you’ve end up making mistakes
No to help carry the TROPHY …..
Surprising, at least to me. Gafford being traded doesn’t matter for this purpose. If he’s traded, they’ll need to take back contracts.
The NYK could easily take the open roster spot, and the big man search, into the Fall. Leave at least one 2way open as well. I don’t like it, but the FO didn’t ask me. Hopefully, they have a few more plans. They’re already past plans A, B and C ..
This is for the ones who don’t understand what a draft is for. Knicks used McBride mostly as a backup SG. For his shooting and his D. When he played with Jalen he took the harder cover. But we really needed him to backup Jalen. So in comes Alvarado and does a good job as Jalens backup. As he is more a PG. Now McBride shooting is still a plus. But we all know he is streaky. I am the only one on this board who wanted McBride at draft.
So it’s with a heavy heart I would trade him. And have drafted Carr. McBride is due a new deal next year. And Carr a big SG 2way talent who is not a 19 yr old kid. Would have been a better fit. And it would have allowed us to keep Hukporti with Drummond. Carr is a 20 pt scorer. And his shooting line is 80% FT, 374% 3pt, 60% 2 pt.
We talking 🏀ing. You getting it now.