The New York Knicks’ effort to bolster depth at center was blocked on Saturday when the Dallas Mavericks matched their contract offer sheet for restricted free agent Moussa Cisse, his agents told ESPN.
The Knicks had signed the 6-foot-11 center earlier Saturday to a two-year, $4.7 million offer sheet, but Yann Balikouzou and Kevin Bradbury of LIFT Sports Management said the Mavericks matched the deal before the 48-hour deadline on Monday night.
ESPN reported that because the offer sheet was matched, Cisse cannot be dealt without his consent for one year, and he cannot be traded to the Knicks during that span. League champion New York lost reserve center Mitchell Robinson to the Boston Celtics in free agency.
Cisse averaged 4.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.2 blocks and 13.9 minutes in 38 games (one start) last season as a rookie with the Mavericks, who signed the undrafted free agent to a two-way contract. He became a restricted free agent when Dallas made him a qualifying offer after the season.
A native of Guinea, Cisse played at Oklahoma State, Ole Miss and Memphis.
