[The Knicks took a shot at landing a reserve big man on the cheap](https://www.nbcsports.com/nba/news/knicks-reportedly-sign-restricted-free-agent-center-moussa-cisse-to-offer-sheet-mavericks-have). At that price, Dallas decided to keep him.
The Mavericks will match the Knicks’ offer sheet to restricted free agent Moussa Cisse, [his agents told Shams Charania of ESPN](https://x.com/ShamsCharania/status/2078689900111577518). Dallas could have waited until Monday but apparently just went now.
This isn’t a surprise, considering how little this was going to cost. The offer sheet was for two years at the minimum ($2.2 million this season, $2.6 million for 2027-28), but that is reportedly only partially guaranteed for this season ($1.1 million, but he would have to be waived by Oct. 1, just after the start of training camp, or it’s guaranteed for the season) and non-guaranteed for next season.
Cisse, a 6'11" center, showed promise last season, starting on an Exhibit 10 contract, then being converted to a two-way contract for the season. He was a regular part of the Mavericks’ big man rotation for a stretch last season and averaged 4.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game in the 38 games he played.
With Cisse on the roster, Dallas is up to a full 15 players with guaranteed contracts on the roster. Dallas is stacked with big men — Cisse joins Dereck Lively II, Daniel Gafford, P.J. Washington, Santi Aldama and just drafted Morez Johnson Jr. There are reports Dallas is open to trading Gafford and Washington.