Trade & Free Agency 2026/2027

[ThisIStheYear]

On Cisse, I’m going to trust the analytics and let him go. Use that roster spot for someone else, maybe one of the young ones.

[KillerLeft]

On Cisse, I’m going to trust the analytics and let him go. Use that roster spot for someone else, maybe one of the young ones.

What do you mean by "one of the young ones?" Are you talking about another young center, or do you mean like Ishenko or someone like that?

[ThisIStheYear]

What do you mean by "one of the young ones?" Are you talking about another young center, or do you mean like Ishenko or someone like that?

Exactly. Could be Ish. Could be one of the others. Doesn’t have to be a center. Cisse was a fun watch and would be fine as a deep bench guy, but he’s become overrated.

Ish needs to stay on the roster though, so definitely don’t match if it’s a choice between the two.

[Mavs2021]

Just match it and figure out the rest later. Worst case you just waive him and/or Nembhard. It´s a minimum salary and we are having no cap issues. I feel for a rebuilding team like the Kings Caleb Martin + Cisse + Nembhard + 2nd round pick for Monk might not be a bad deal. Saves them money over next two years, gets them a minor draft asset and two young players to test for the minimum.

[KillerLeft]

Exactly. Could be Ish. Could be one of the others. Doesn’t have to be a center. Cisse was a fun watch and would be fine as a deep bench guy, but he’s become overrated.

Ok, I see. You might be right about the overrated part, might not. 

But for context, I don't expect Gafford to be around here too much longer. One more season at the very, very most, and I still think we could get a tweet that he's been traded at any moment, honestly. If I knew he would be around for the entire year, I'd be less interested in the Cisse situation - they found him, so they can probably find another one next summer. Still, I like him much more than Kai Jones from last summer, so maybe not? I actually think Cisse is ready to play some NBA minutes as a deep rotation or just outside of the rotation type, and believe he'd do so effectively and cost efficiently.

I definitely don't value him more than Ishenko, De Larrea, Biberovic, etc. My interest in him is solely about making the center position more sane and cost effective.

[mvossman]

Exactly. Could be Ish. Could be one of the others. Doesn’t have to be a center. Cisse was a fun watch and would be fine as a deep bench guy, but he’s become overrated.

Ish needs to stay on the roster though, so definitely don’t match if it’s a choice between the two.

I don't think Seva will be on the 15.  He and Lawal will be two ways so I don't think it will affect them.  If anything it might come down to Cisse vs Nembhard.

[Moviemavguy]

Never let a young, talented asset like Cisse go for nothing especially when centers are always at a premium. If only half the year is guaranteed, then you'd be soooo dumb not to match. This is a good first test of Masai.

[F Gump]

FWIW the Knicks 2 year offer sheet guarantees the same amount as the Mavs 2-way offer -- half of one season's NBA minimum. Of course, if he sticks for 2 years, they'll be paying way more.

Mavs wanted him as an insurance policy that they would rely on. Whether they want to invest a roster spot remains to be seen.

[cow]

FWIW the Knicks 2 year offer sheet guarantees the same amount as the Mavs 2-way offer -- half of one season's NBA minimum. Of course, if he sticks for 2 years, they'll be paying way more.

Mavs wanted him as an insurance policy that they would rely on. Whether they want to invest a roster spot remains to be seen.

Is it possible to match and then trade him to the Knicks for a tip?

[OldMavsFan]

Well I guess Cisse signing with the Knicks may answer why he didn't play in the summer league and yes the FO will have to match or let him go in two days and Cisse has a fair amount of fans who believe he is going to be a rotation player as soon has these coming season, though I just didn't see he would be ready for primetime for at least two more seasons.  I remember an bigger OMax who had great energy and was a good defender in the lane.  I also recall he made everyone of his 3 pointers he took and shot 47% from the free throw line, which would be a great batting average.  Now we are talking about adding him to the 15 roster and knowing that you will have to move or drop someone on the roster.  Those that see him as Gafford's replacement this year seems to ignore that Lively won't be the starting center to begin the year or for that matter be playing in the first 3rd of the season, so I guess you think Cisse and Morez will carry the load from day one.  

I think the other option and maybe the reason for the Mavs to restrict him with the two way maybe to do sign and trade so they can get a 2nd rounder or to expanded the deal.  It is funny to watch the summer league and guess who and what the Mavs may do and how they are going to play going forward, but I feel that the last half of last year the Mavs and all the tanking teams didn't really play even slightly good basketball and the talent level in most games was even worse than in the summer league.  Cisse can defend in the paint and out on the court I would guess but he will not even be guarded by the other teams if he is 8 feet or more from the basket.  He shot 54% in the lane and Gafford shots 70% and makes 67% of his free throws, though he did miss one 3 pointer in 7 years.  To me if these was most any other year I would be on board trying to keep him for what he might become, but so many young players that are so far above him in BBIQ and court time, it isn't a no brainer to have him on the 15 man roster.

I still expect some of the 15 already signed to not be here at the start of the season, but I also imagine there will be a player or two joining the team.  I seem to not become attached to every end of the bencher that comes along and is a "fan favorite' as lot of fans.  I guess in two days we will know if the FO feels like he is at least someone they want to look at in the preseason or not.

[F Gump]

Is it possible to match and then trade him to the Knicks for a tip?

No. If the Mavs match, for 1 year he can't be traded to NY at all, nor anywhere else without his permission. Mavs have to make a decision.

[cow]

No. If the Mavs match, for 1 year he can't be traded to NY at all, nor anywhere else without his permission. Mavs have to make a decision.

Thanks.

As much as I like Cisse's energy and considering our glut of big men, I'd probably let him go to greener pastures.

[DallasMaverick]

Thanks.

As much as I like Cisse's energy and considering our glut of big men, I'd probably let him go to greener pastures.

With the additions of Morez and Aldama, he seems superfluous.

[KillerLeft]

With the additions of Morez and Aldama, he seems superfluous.

Agreed, if they see the center rotation the same way you do, as in with a commitment to all currently on the roster. But, they did give him the qualifying offer, which isn't huge, but it's also not nothing. 

I think how they handle this might give us some clues about what's next. If they expect all of Lively, Gafford, Johnson and Aldama to be here for the full season, my guess is that they'll opt not to match. Then again, it isn't a big contract, and it's only guaranteed for half the year, so...maybe they might want him just to soak up the odd minutes here and there while waiting for Lively to reach 100% this latest (and maybe last) time?

[cow]

Agreed, if they see the center rotation the same way you do, as in with a commitment to all currently on the roster. But, they did give him the qualifying offer, which isn't huge, but it's also not nothing. 

I think how they handle this might give us some clues about what's next. If they expect all of Lively, Gafford, Johnson and Aldama to be here for the full season, my guess is that they'll opt not to match. Then again, it isn't a big contract, and it's only guaranteed for half the year, so...maybe they might want him just to soak up the odd minutes here and there while waiting for Lively to reach 100% this latest (and maybe last) time?

The roster spot is probably more valuable than the dollar amount on his contract.  Regardless, it will be interesting to see what they do with him.

[F Gump]

Agreed, if they see the center rotation the same way you do, as in with a commitment to all currently on the roster. But, they did give him the qualifying offer, which isn't huge, but it's also not nothing. 

Mav QO was basically a standing offer for another 2-way year. That's all it was. NY's offer was the smallest possible offer another team could legally make. We will see if the Mavs have strong enough preference for keeping him at the minimum with very limited guarantees.

If not, I think a 2-way slot is how they will cover their remaining C need, which makes me wonder if any of the Mav SL players at C are 2-way eligible.

[FireNicoHarrison]

I hope nothing but the best to Cisse but there is not room for him here...

[DanSchwartzgan]

The roster spot is probably more valuable than the dollar amount on his contract.  Regardless, it will be interesting to see what they do with him.

Since we can carry 21 players right now, to me it is the money that matters more than the roster spot.

If this was just about the cash, the easy decision would be to eat the guaranteed money - which Spotrac reports as $1,092,558 - and figure out who to cut in training camp.  But recall that we are only $16mm under the tax with a $21mm TPE available.  FG has made a compelling argument that we won’t be a taxpayer this season.  

So, the moment you match Cisse, you are now closer to the tax and able to use $1.1mm less of the TPE without taking further action later.  The tax bill doesn’t have to be resolved until the end of the season.  So, it isn’t a big deal  But, for all we know, Dallas may have something planned that requires very exacting math under the tax that an extra $1.1mm might disrupt.

[speedkilz88]

It's just the minimum. I think they match and shed elsewhere.

[cow]

Since we can carry 21 players right now, to me it is the money that matters more than the roster spot.

If this was just about the cash, the easy decision would be to eat the guaranteed money - which Spotrac reports as $1,092,558 - and figure out who to cut in training camp.  But recall that we are only $16mm under the tax with a $21mm TPE available.  FG has made a compelling argument that we won’t be a taxpayer this season.  

So, the moment you match Cisse, you are now closer to the tax and able to use $1.1mm less of the TPE without taking further action later.  The tax bill doesn’t have to be resolved until the end of the season.  So, it isn’t a big deal  But, for all we know, Dallas may have something planned that requires very exacting math under the tax that an extra $1.1mm might disrupt.

I guess I'm looking at it backwards as if you match, you'd think we'd carry him on the final 15.