The Mavericks have stacked size on top of size, and that’s created a real puzzle in the frontcourt. Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford sit at the top of the center depth chart, while offseason addition Santi Aldama and rookie Morez Johnson Jr. could also spend time at the five.
Add Cooper Flagg and P.J. Washington into the mix at power forward, and Dallas suddenly has a crowded lane to sort through.
That abundance means the Mavericks can even go without a traditional center if they choose. But with the talent they’ve assembled, the bigger issue is making sure the right players actually get on the floor.
Lively II brings the highest ceiling of the group, a 22-year-old former lottery pick who has flashed whenever health has allowed. Gafford, 27, has carved out his own value with a career 70.2 percent field goal mark and a game built around finishing lobs and erasing shots near the rim. And then there’s Moussa Cisse, who may be the most interesting name of the bunch.
Cisse doesn’t have the draft status of Lively II or the track record of Gafford, but he made a strong case in his rookie season with Dallas. On the surface, 4.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 13.9 minutes per game looks modest. Stretch that production to 36 minutes, though, and it jumps to 11.5 points, 14.7 rebounds and 3.1 blocks.
The numbers hint at a player who can do a lot more than his raw averages suggest. Cisse is still learning the finer points, but his energy, athleticism and physical edge already make him tough to ignore.
The deeper metrics back that up. He finished among the top 15 players in the league in both rebound percentage and block percentage, and he was especially effective around the rim, ranking 25th among 399 players who appeared in at least 30 games in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents shot 11.2 percentage points worse with him as the primary defender.
Cisse may not have the pedigree, the counting stats or the contract that usually force a team’s hand. But he has already shown enough in a limited role to deserve more. Even with Dallas’ frontcourt packed tight, the Mavericks need to carve out minutes for him.
In Other News...
Mavericks Suddenly Have A Kyrie Irving Question They Can't Ignore
The Kyrie Irving conversation in Dallas is no longer the kind of offseason chatter you can just file away and forget. There is still ongoing speculation around a possible trade, and the kind of destination that keeps surfacing is the sort that naturally turns heads because of the fit, the profile and the stakes for a Mavericks team trying to keep its footing while also thinking big-picture.
Miami has been mentioned as one place this could go if Dallas ever decides to explore it, and the Heats recent move to land Giannis Antetokounmpo only adds another layer of intrigue to their roster-building plans. If the Mavericks ever do open the door, the return being discussed would bring back Andrew Wiggins and Nikola Jovic, which at least gives Dallas a starting point for thinking through what a deal like that would mean. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Are Sending A Clear Message About Sergio De Larrea
Sergio De Larreas first few months in Dallas have done more than introduce the Mavericks first-round pick from the 2026 NBA Draft. They have also hinted at how the organization views his path to real minutes. After a Summer League showing that turned heads with his playmaking instincts, De Larrea has already put himself in the conversation as part of the teams immediate guard picture, not just a developmental stash for later.
That matters because the Mavericks do not have much margin for error behind Kyrie Irving, and the way the roster has come together suggests the front office is comfortable leaning on De Larrea sooner rather than later. With Marcus Sasser in the mix as well, the backup point guard room is thin enough that every preseason look and rotation decision carries extra weight. If Irving misses time, Dallas may not have the luxury of easing De Larrea in slowly. [Read more 🡒]
P.J. Washington's Starting Role Suddenly Looks Far Less Safe
Training camp has not even sorted itself out yet, but the Mavericks already have a lineup question worth watching at power forward. A team insider has projected rookie Morez Johnson Jr., Dallas 2024 first-round pick, to open the season in the starting role, a development that would change the shape of the frontcourt and make P.J. Washingtons path to the first unit much less certain. For a team trying to balance size, versatility and lineup fit, it is the kind of early debate that can linger well into preseason.
Washington still has a strong case to stay involved in the starting mix, especially because his defensive versatility gives Dallas a look it values. His ability to handle multiple jobs on that end is part of why the Mavericks may be reluctant to move too quickly, even with a young big pressing for minutes. For now, though, the decision appears fluid, with camp and preseason expected to determine whether Dallas leans into the rookie or keeps Washington in place. [Read more 🡒]