The Dallas Mavericks have put themselves back in a familiar bind, but Moussa Cisse should not be the player who pays for it.
After moving on from Klay Thompson to get down to 15 players, Dallas turned around and brought Dwight Powell back, pushing the roster back up to 16 on standard contracts. That would normally leave one clean exit, but the Mavericks lost that flexibility when Cisse’s contract became guaranteed on October 2. With that, his spot effectively got locked in.
So now the math is simple: somebody else has to go. Dallas cannot open the regular season carrying more than 15 players on standard deals, which means the focus shifts to Powell or Caleb Martin, not Cisse.
At first glance, Cisse looked like the easiest name to circle. His deal is guaranteed, but it’s still only $2.2 million, the cheapest contract on the roster.
He’s also the least experienced non-rookie in the group, with just 38 career games under his belt. On paper, that makes him the obvious candidate if the Mavericks want to trim back to 15.
Waiving and stretching him would cost Dallas roughly $730,000, since his second year is non-guaranteed. That path would be neat, clean, and financially manageable. It also would be the wrong move.
Cisse has earned more than a pass. He posted 11.5 points, 14.7 rebounds, and 3.7 blocks per 36 minutes last season, production that fits the profile of a useful center without demanding the ball. At 6-foot-11, he brings the kind of athletic, low-usage presence that can slot into different lineups without causing headaches.
The Mavericks have already shown they believe in him. They matched the New York Knicks’ offer sheet, then kept his salary alive past both the September 1 and October 1 deadlines before the October 2 guarantee made everything official. That’s not the kind of commitment teams usually make to a player they’re preparing to cut loose.
Dallas also has a reason to keep thinking long term here. Cisse is viewed as a key piece for 2026-27, and he’s behind two starting-caliber centers in Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II. But both of those players come with health questions, and Lively is still rehabbing from season-ending surgery.
Powell, meanwhile, remains the veteran presence in the room more than anything else. He’s 35, hasn’t reached 1,000 minutes in three years, and even with a fresh deal, he still reads as the clearest cut candidate if the Mavericks need to make room. And if Dallas does move on from him, the door would likely stay open for a return.
Cisse may have looked vulnerable once upon a time, but with his contract now fully guaranteed, that discussion should be over. He’s staying in Dallas.
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For the Mavericks, the appeal is obvious. If Gafford can become even a occasional threat from deep, it would open up more room for Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving to work with in the halfcourt, stretching defenses in a way Dallas has not been able to count on from its front line. The idea is still in the early stages, but it is the kind of small tactical shift that can change how an offense feels, especially when it comes from a player who has rarely been asked to do it before. [Read more 🡒]
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What makes his early days with the team worth watching is the balance between what Dallas hopes he can eventually add and the fact that he is still working back into rhythm. The Mavericks are managing his recovery carefully in camp, and his availability will remain a talking point as they figure out how quickly he can become part of their rotation plans. For a team that values versatility, Aldama is one of those additions whose impact may not show up right away, but could matter more once the season gets rolling. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Get An Early Test Against A Rockets Team Loaded With Options
The preseason trip to Macao gives Dallas an early look at a Houston roster built around options, uncertainty and a few key names working their way back. The NBA China Games will pair the Mavericks and Rockets in a setting that is more about evaluation than the standings, with Houston expected to use the games to sort through lineup possibilities and rotation pieces while welcoming back players from ACL injuries.
For Dallas, the bigger value may come in the information it collects than the result itself. Dusty May framed the matchup as a chance to learn, which fits a preseason environment where the focus is on fit, health and combinations rather than the final score, especially against a Rockets group with plenty to sort through before the games begin to matter. [Read more 🡒]