The Lakers may have cleaned up a lot of their roster mess this offseason, but the backup center spot still looks like the one hole that can’t be ignored. Even after the preseason minutes from Walker Kessler, Kevon Looney, and Sandro Mamukelashvili, there’s still a real sense that Los Angeles doesn’t have enough size to hang with the West’s best over a full season.
That’s why Moussa Cisse has entered the conversation. The Mavericks center is now being floated as a possible trade piece, and NBA insider Marc Stein pointed to a scenario where Dallas might need to create a roster spot if it wants to make room for Dwight Powell.
“Now would the Mavericks really release, say, center Moussa Cisse to make room for Powell? … That all seemed highly unlikely … until hearing May gush over Powell’s play. The Mavericks could also attempt to create a roster spot via trade.”
Cisse originally returned to Dallas after the Mavericks matched New York’s offer sheet for him, a move that made it seem like he’d have a real path into the rotation. But Powell’s sudden rise with head coach Dusty May has changed the picture, and with the Oct. 19 deadline approaching, Dallas may have to waive or trade a player if it wants the roster flexibility to add Powell. Add in Cisse’s latest ankle injury, and his name starts to make a lot more sense in trade discussions.
One possible framework would send Cisse to the Lakers and Jaden Hardy to the Mavericks.
Proposed Trade Details
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Moussa Cisse
Dallas Mavericks Receive: Jaden Hardy
In a perfect world, Dallas would probably push for draft compensation, and Los Angeles would rather move Dalton Knecht. But under these specific circumstances, this swap is at least workable.
For Dallas, the deal only makes sense if you’re looking beyond the immediate math. The Mavericks would be taking on $3.9 million more in salary by absorbing Hardy’s $6.0 million contract, which doesn’t look great on the surface. Still, with a total payroll of $192.1 million, according to Spotrac, they can do it without worrying about crossing the tax line.
There’s also the basketball side of it. If Cisse is moved out and Dwight Powell ends up back in the mix, Dallas would patch its frontcourt issue right away.
What the Mavericks still seem to need, though, is another bench scorer who can create his own shot. That’s where Hardy comes in.
The Mavericks have lost players like Brandon Williams and Ryan Nembhard, and the need for an isolation threat off the bench has become more obvious. Hardy could fill that gap.
Last season, he averaged 9.2 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 1.0 assists while shooting 42.4% from the field and 39.7% from three-point range. He hasn’t looked sharp in Lakers preseason action, but the fit in Dallas appears cleaner.
He’d likely have more freedom there, which could help unlock more production.
Hardy’s expiring contract also gives Dallas another lever. The Mavericks could waive him now or let him play out the deal and bank the cap flexibility for next summer. Either way, it’s a low-risk move.
For the Lakers, the appeal is more straightforward. They’ve got decent wing and guard depth, but the center rotation drops off fast. That’s exactly why Cisse makes sense.
At 24, Cisse has built a case as a useful young big. His athleticism and physical tools stand out, but so do his shot-blocking instincts, motor, and rebounding. Last season, he posted 4.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game in just 13.9 minutes a night, which tells you plenty about the kind of impact he can make in a limited role.
He isn’t bringing much offense, but as a rim protector and lob target, he could still fit with the right pairings. If the Lakers stagger him alongside Luka Doncic or Austin Reaves, there’s a path for him to matter on both ends.
It’s the kind of move that would help stabilize the second unit once Walker Kessler sits. The problem is the roster math. Los Angeles currently has 16 players on standard contracts, so it still has to clear a spot before opening night.
That’s what makes this idea so tricky, and also so appealing. A Hardy-for-Cisse swap could solve more than one problem at once.
Whether Dallas would actually part with Cisse is another story. Given how useful he is to the Mavericks, it may take them being forced into it before a deal like this becomes realistic.
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Powell still brings the sort of veteran leadership and basketball IQ that teams value when deciding who can help over the long haul, but the Mavericks have not locked in their final group yet. With both players still waiting on a decision, the competition has become one of the more intriguing questions hanging over camp. [Read more 🡒]