The Dallas Mavericks have re-signed restricted free agent center Moussa Cisse, matching an offer sheet he reportedly signed with the New York Knicks, the team announced Wednesday.
The contract is a two-year deal worth $4.7 million, according to multiple reports. Dallas moved swiftly to retain the 6-foot-11 big man, who emerged as a promising rotational piece during the 2025-26 season.
Cisse, 22, went undrafted out of Memphis in 2024 and spent his rookie campaign on a two-way contract with the Mavericks. He made the most of his opportunity, appearing in 38 games with one start and averaging 4.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 13.9 minutes per game.
His rebounding stood out among first-year players. Cisse ranked third among all rookies in blocks per game and delivered a historic performance in the regular-season finale against the Chicago Bulls, grabbing 20 rebounds to tie Roy Tarpley's Dallas rookie single-game record — a mark that had stood since the 1986-87 season.
The Mavericks had made Cisse a restricted free agent, giving them the right to match any offer sheet from another team. When the Knicks presented a two-year, $4.7 million offer, Dallas elected to retain the young center rather than let him walk.
Cisse's return shores up the Mavericks' frontcourt depth behind starters Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford. His combination of size, shot-blocking instinct and rebounding provides Dallas with insurance in the frontcourt rotation as the team prepares for the 2026-27 season.
Sources
- https://apnews.com/article/mavericks-moussa-cisse-dc87997474ff5b7ec3b6bafa0ae2f3bf
