The Philadelphia 76ers are looking for a new center, and they are looking right at the Dallas Mavericks. NBA insider Jake Fischer reported that the 76ers are watching the Moussa Cisse situation closely. This comes after the 76ers lost their own center, Ariel Hukporti, to a season-ending Achilles tear. Hukporti suffered the injury during a preseason game, leaving Philadelphia with very few options at the position.
After re-signing veteran Dwight Powell, Dallas currently has 16 people on their roster, according to Sports Illustrated. Someone has to go before the deadline hits. If a player goes unclaimed by Monday, the team pays the full dead cap hit. The only move that makes financial sense is moving on from Cisse. He signed an offer sheet with the New York Knicks that Dallas matched, but his contract remains cheap and movable.
A Thin Roster in Philadelphia
The 76ers need help because they cannot rely on Joel Embiid to stay healthy. They also have Adem Bona, but that is all they have at true center. Jabari Walker and Dean Wade can play small-ball center minutes, but they are not the answer. Fischer noted that Cisse is a name to potentially file away for the 76ers. Whether he is available hinges on Dallas’s decision regarding its final roster spot.
Despite Dereck Lively II recovering from foot surgery, Dallas still possesses depth. Daniel Gafford, rookie Morez Johnson Jr., Santi Aldama, and Dwight Powell can all soak up minutes. The coaching staff appears to place more trust in Powell than Cisse. Cisse likely would not get a big role in the rotation anyway. Moving him solves a cap issue and helps a contender in need.
The Cost of Keeping Cisse
It would be bad business to move a young player with potential just to clear a spot for a veteran. However, the numbers do not lie. The 76ers are desperate, and Dallas has a surplus.
Dallas went 26-56 last season, so every win matters. Retaining a player who could see only one final NBA season without actually taking the court hardly makes logical sense. The 76ers are in win-now mode with Embiid. They need someone who can step in immediately. Cisse fits that need, but only if Dallas is willing to let him walk.
A Decision That Cannot Wait
The clock is ticking on the roster spot. Teams are making their decisions by today or tomorrow. If Dallas keeps Cisse, they might lose him for nothing if he clears waivers. If they trade him to Philadelphia, they get a chance to help a team that needs him. The 76ers lost Hukporti, and now they are looking for a fix. Dallas has the piece they need right on their bench.
Per reports, the 76ers are monitoring the situation. The decision is now in Dallas hands. They can keep a young player with no guaranteed minutes or help a rival fill a massive hole. The smart play is to move Cisse. The 76ers need him, and Dallas needs the roster space. It is a simple trade that solves two problems at once.