The Dallas Mavericks have fully guaranteed the 2026-27 salary for second-year center Moussa Cissé, locking in his roster spot ahead of the October 1 deadline. This move solidifies the Mavericks' 15-man standard roster as they depart for preseason games in Macao. The team is looking to build momentum after a tough end to last season, where their final five games resulted in a 1W-4L record, capped by a 149-128 win over the Chicago Bulls on April 13.
Cissé's $2,185,116 salary for the upcoming season is now fully protected. The Mavericks had already guaranteed half of that amount on September 1. His contract for the following year, 2027-28, remains non-guaranteed until a key date in January 2028. This decision follows a busy summer where the New York Knicks signed Cissé to a two-year offer sheet in July. Dallas matched that offer within 11 hours, retaining the young center. Because they matched, Cissé holds trade protection for one year and cannot be dealt to the Knicks during that period.
In his rookie year, Cissé showed flashes of real potential. He averaged 4.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks in just under 14 minutes per game across 38 appearances. His field goal percentage was a solid 57.4%. Cissé split time between the Mavericks and their G League affiliate, the Texas Legends, which he credits for his development. He even plans to attend some Legends games this season to support the team. His career highs of 17 points and 20 rebounds came in that final regular-season victory against the Bulls.
Cissé enters training camp knowing he's behind established centers Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II in the rotation. Veteran Dwight Powell is also in camp on a non-guaranteed deal. Cissé said his focus is on learning his teammates' tendencies and mastering his defensive positioning. New head coach Dusty May has already expressed faith in him, reaching out after being hired in June. "That was beautiful," Cissé said. "A head coach reaching out to you and then telling you he had faith in you."
The Mavericks' preseason journey continues with games against the Houston Rockets in Macao on October 9 and 11. Fans can track the team's progress and view the full schedule on our [fixtures](/fixtures) page. For Cissé, the guaranteed contract is a milestone, not a finish line. "That's what every basketball player wants, to be on a standard contract," he noted. "That don't mean the job is done. I gotta keep working."
