The Dallas Mavericks pulled a bold move to keep their young big man. They matched the New York Knicks’ two-year offer sheet for Moussa Cisse. This deal is worth $4.7 million total. The decision hit just before the Monday night deadline. Now the Knicks are stuck without a key piece for their frontcourt depth. Dallas figured they needed Cisse more than New York could afford to wait.
A Simple Deal for a Restricted Free Agent
Moussa Cisse signed the offer sheet from New York earlier on Saturday. The Knicks handed him a two-year contract worth $4.7 million. Dallas moved fast to match this offer before the 48-hour window closed. Yann Balikouzou and Kevin Bradbury of LIFT Sports Management told ESPN’s Shams Charania about the move. The 6-foot-11 center was an undrafted free agent from Memphis last summer. He started on a two-way deal but earned a qualifying offer this offseason. That made him a restricted free agent with a right of first refusal for Dallas.
Money and Rules That Change the Game
The financial details of this contract matter for both teams. Cisse’s salary was set at $2.2 million for the current season. That number would drop to $1.1 million in protection if he isn’t waived by Sept. 1. The rest of the money becomes guaranteed on Oct. 1, according to reports. Since Dallas matched the offer, Cisse can’t be traded without his consent for one year. He also can’t be traded to the Knicks during that same period. This locks him into Dallas for the long haul unless he demands a trade.
Why the Knicks Missed Out on Depth
New York really needed help in the middle after losing Mitchell Robinson. Cisse averaged 4.5 points and 5.7 rebounds in just under 14 minutes per game last year. He also added 1.2 blocks in that limited time. Those stats show he has the tools to help a championship team. The Knicks lost out on this depth because they couldn’t get Dallas to step aside. The Mavs kept a player who turns 24 in September. Now the Knicks must find another big man to fill the hole. Dallas gets a player who fits their system without paying a premium price.
Do you think the Knicks should have offered more to win this battle? Or was $4.7 million just too cheap to lose for Dallas? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
