Mavericks matches Knicks’ Moussa Cisse offer sheet

The Dallas Mavericks are sticking with their restricted free agent center. Dallas matched the New York Knicks’ two-year, $4.7 million offer sheet for Moussa Cisse on Saturday.

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the 6-foot-11 center had signed the offer sheet with New York earlier in the day, but the Mavericks used their right of first refusal to retain him well ahead of the 48-hour deadline set for Monday. The deal reportedly carries a half-guaranteed salary in its first year, with the second season non-guaranteed.

Cisse took a winding path to the NBA. A native of Conakry, Guinea, he played collegiately at Memphis, Oklahoma State, and Ole Miss before returning to Memphis for his final season, going undrafted in 2025. He signed an Exhibit 10 contract with Dallas that summer after a solid Summer League showing, then converted to a two-way deal once the regular season began.

Cisse carved out a real role for the Mavericks as a rookie, appearing in 38 games and averaging 4.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks in just under 14 minutes per outing while shooting 57.4 percent from the field. He flashed real upside in stretches, including a season-ending double-double of 17 points and 20 rebounds in a win over the Chicago Bulls, filling in admirably during a season in which Dallas dealt with a rash of frontcourt injuries following the Anthony Davis trade fallout.

His production carried over to the G-League as well, where he averaged 14.7 points, 13.1 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks across 15 games with the Texas Legends, further building the case for a bigger role heading into next season.

By matching the offer sheet, Dallas retains a young big man who has already shown flashes of shot-blocking ability and efficient finishing near the rim, without having to give up any draft compensation in return. For a Mavericks frontcourt that struggled with depth and health for much of last season, keeping Cisse in the fold gives the team another option to build around as it looks to steady things out in the paint.