The Dallas Mavericks have been making moves over the weekend. They got former No. 1 overall pick Zaccharie Risacher in a trade, but hours before, they decided to match the New York Knicks' offer for big man Moussa Cisse, per ESPN's Shams Charania.
The offer sheet was for two years, $4.7 million, and the Mavericks didn't waste any time matching it before the 48-hour deadline. Mavs fans should be pumped that Cisse comes back, but it could signal the end for one of Dallas' other big men.
Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II have had some head-scratching times with the Mavericks lately, and we can only wonder how the Mavs will operate with three guys at center who will play decent minutes.
Cisse staying in Dallas could mean the end for Daniel Gafford or Dereck Lively II
The Mavericks' recent injury spell continued when Gafford suffered a right ankle sprain on the opening day of training camp. He was trying to be a trooper throughout the season, but it was hard for him, as he looked like he was struggling physically.
With Cisse staying in Dallas, it could mean the end of Gafford's time in Dallas. He's been the middle of trade rumors for over a year now, but the Mavs can get some real value and even some draft capital if done right by Masai Ujiri and Mike Schmitz.
Gafford is a dominant center who can change the momentum of games, but the ingredients are present for a trade.
The same can be said about Dereck Lively II, who has only played 43 games in the past two seasons. He's a threat to block shots and score in the paint, but he hasn't played. He gave a not-so-optimistic injury update a few weeks ago when he told reporters he couldn't run or jump yet. There was also a video of him struggling to walk, and it only deepened concerns.
Lively II is younger than Gafford, so it's more likely the Mavs would want to keep the younger asset, but his not playing doesn't do anything but hurt the team.
Cisse, at 6-foot-11, proved his worth as a young man who can fly high and be a lob threat. He averaged 4.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in just under 14 minutes last season. He didn't play a whole ton of minutes, but he played in 38 games and started in one. He was badly needed with the Mavericks' injury woes.
He's a perfect backup in this system with Cooper Flagg, who can find Cisse running to the rim for a lob. The Mavericks have made some great decisions in the past two days, and they continue that by keeping their young big man.
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