Alright, so the biggest question mark hanging over the Philadelphia 76ers’ roster right now is without a doubt that backup center spot. It’s been a problem, and it got even worse with Ariel Hukporti’s season-ending Achilles injury. General Manager Mike Gansey has been scanning the NBA looking for an answer, and one name that keeps popping up? Dallas Mavericks center Moussa Cisse.
Cisse: The High-Energy Big Man They’re Eyeing
Marc Stein dropped some serious intel on “The Stein Line”: if Cisse somehow got waived on Monday and then cleared waivers by Wednesday, both the Sixers and the Lakers would be “strong interest” candidates to sign him to a two-way deal. And get this, neither team even has a two-way opening right now, so that’s how serious the interest is! Cisse, at 6-foot-11 and 24 years old, is a highly athletic guy. He totally fits that rim-running, shot-blocking mold the Sixers are desperate for in a backup. You can see why they’d be all over him.
The Dallas Curveball That Blew Up the Plan
But hold up, because this isn’t a straight shot. Stein also learned that Cisse is a “real candidate” to be claimed if he were let go. Chicago is interested in the high-energy big man, and Atlanta’s got eyes on him too, even though the Hawks don’t have an open standard spot. So even if Dallas let him go, it wasn’t a done deal for Philly. Then Monday hit, and things got way less likely for Dallas to waive Cisse. Shams Charania from ESPN reported that the Dallas Mavericks instead released veteran center Dwight Powell. Yeah, you read that right: Powell got waived, not Cisse. So you probably shouldn’t be ordering those custom black Iverson-era Cisse jerseys just yet. This whole situation is still super fluid, but Cisse’s name is definitely one to keep watching over the next few days.
What’s Next for the Sixers’ Bigs
So what about Philly’s current center situation? Well, Joel Embiid is healthy and totally ready to start on opening night against the New York Knicks. That’s a relief! The team also feels good about Adem Bona returning from his foot injury. He missed the entire preseason, but he’s making his way back. Bona told reporters recently, “Mentally, it’s been great. I’ve been able to come back. Getting back out there, working with the team. I’ve had amazing practices with the team. It’s been great. I’m feeling good and excited to get back out there on the court. It’s been going good so far.” He even touched on his availability for the opener, saying it’s going to come down to the coaches. It sounds like they’re feeling pretty good about Bona, which is huge if they can’t land an outside guy like Cisse.
The Sixers kick off their season against the Knicks, and you know they’ll need all hands on deck, especially in the paint. It’s gonna be wild to see how this center spot shakes out in the coming days.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Liberty Ballers.
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