Moussa Cisse gave the Mavericks another reason to think twice about their final roster call Wednesday night.
For a stretch, Dwight Powell looked like the safer bet to claim one of Dallas’ 15 spots. He had earned strong words from head coach Dusty May and turned in solid performances in the Mavericks’ first two preseason games in Macau, China. But in Dallas’ third preseason game against the New Orleans Pelicans, Cisse pushed himself back into the conversation in a big way.
Powell did not play Wednesday, landing a DNP-CD, while Cisse got the start and made the most of his 16 minutes. He finished with eight points on 3-for-6 shooting, six rebounds and three blocks, continuing to show the kind of rim protection that has quickly become one of his best traits.
The two bigs offer very different value. Powell brings experience, smarts and dependable positioning, and he rarely makes mistakes on offense.
He also gives Dallas a veteran voice, which matters on a younger team. Cisse, though, is forcing the issue with raw upside.
Dallas didn’t match his offer sheet from the New York Knicks this summer for no reason, and Wednesday was another reminder of why.
He still has work to do as a finisher and as a rim-runner, but Cisse’s athleticism jumps off the floor. He has the size, length and strength to impact games at the rim, and his rebounding and shot-blocking already stand out.
Dallas has other bigs who can handle the finer points offensively, but Cisse may be the best rim protector on the roster outside of a healthy Dereck Lively II. If he sharpens the offensive side of his game, his ceiling gets a lot more interesting.
Powell’s place in the organization and in Dallas is well known, but moving on from Cisse could come back to haunt the Mavericks. There’s a real chance another team would take him and unlock more of what made him such an intriguing find in the first place as an undrafted free agent out of Memphis.
Financially, Dallas wouldn’t be taking on much risk by keeping Powell over Cisse. Still, the Mavericks already guaranteed Cisse’s $2.2 million salary for this season, and the decision now looks less about money than fit.
Nothing is set until the regular season begins, and Dallas will likely wait until the end before making its call. For now, Cisse is making the argument the loudest way possible.
In Other News...
Mavericks Just Got A Tougher Shooting Decision Than Fans Expected
John Poulakidas missing the Mavericks second preseason game naturally stirred some questions about where he stands in Dallas plans, especially with roster decisions still taking shape. The team has been looking for ways to sharpen its three-point shooting, and that has put a spotlight on players who can help stretch the floor without needing a heavy offensive load.
Poulakidas offered a reminder of why he remains part of that conversation in the latest look against the New Orleans Pelicans, when he scored 16 points and knocked down four three-pointers. For a roster still weighing moves involving him and others, that kind of bench shooting is exactly the sort of skill set that can make a decision more complicated than it first appeared. [Read more 🡒]
Dusty May Just Spotlighted Why Risacher Could Matter For Dallas
The Mavericks 101-97 preseason loss to the Pelicans didnt change much in the standings, but it did offer another look at why Zaccharie Risacher keeps drawing attention. Dallas fell to 1-2, and even in a game where his shot wasnt falling cleanly, Risacher still found ways to impact the action with his activity around the glass, his work in transition and the movement that kept him involved without needing the ball in his hands.
Dusty May made sure to point out those details after the game, and they matter for Dallas because they speak to a player who can help in more than one phase. Risacher finished with six points, four rebounds, an assist, two steals and a block in 23 minutes, a stat line that showed both his versatility and the rough edges that come with preseason evaluation. The shooting efficiency was uneven, but the larger takeaway for the Mavericks is that there is already evidence of the kind of connective play that can make him useful once the games start to count. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Could Face A Roster Squeeze Lakers Fans Should Watch
The Lakers search for more help behind their front line has pulled the Mavericks into the conversation, with one trade framework sending center Moussa Cisse to Los Angeles and bringing guard Jaden Hardy back to Dallas. It is the kind of swap that speaks to both teams needs: the Lakers would be looking to shore up backup big man depth, while Dallas would be betting on a young scorer who could add some punch off the bench.
For the Mavericks, the wrinkle is less about the name value of the deal than the roster math it could trigger. Dwight Powells return would require room, which means Dallas may have to make a decision somewhere else on the bench, and that is where the squeeze starts to matter. Hardys fit is easy enough to imagine in a second unit that could use more scoring, but the question is whether the Mavericks are ready to reshuffle bodies to make the move work. [Read more 🡒]