The Philadelphia 76ers could consider Dallas Mavericks center Moussa Cisse as they look to address a frontcourt need following Ariel Hukporti’s season-ending Achilles injury, according to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line.
“The Mavericks’ Moussa Cisse is another name to potentially file away for the Sixers after the loss to Ariel Hukporti to a season-ending Achilles tear,” Fischer reported on Thursday, October 15, 2026. “Cisse’s availability, mind you, likely depends on what Dallas decides to do with its final roster spot.”
Cisse’s potential availability is tied to a roster decision in Dallas. Marc Stein reported on October 11 that the Mavericks could consider waiving the young center or pursuing a consolidation trade to create room for veteran Dwight Powell ahead of the regular season.
Dallas matched a July offer sheet from the New York Knicks to retain Cisse in restricted free agency. His $2.2 million salary became fully guaranteed after the Mavericks kept him on the roster beyond October 1, making a potential release a more consequential decision.
A trade could provide Dallas with an alternative, although completing a deal so close to the start of the season may be difficult. Fischer’s report indicates that Philadelphia’s ability to pursue Cisse could depend on how the Mavericks resolve the situation.
Cisse, 24, averaged 4.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 38 games for Dallas during the 2025-26 season. He shot 57.4% from the field while playing 13.9 minutes per game, starting once.
The center also produced at the G League level with the Texas Legends, averaging 14.8 points, 13.3 rebounds and 2.3 blocks in 16 appearances. His rebounding and shot-blocking numbers could make him an option for a Philadelphia team looking to add frontcourt depth.
The Sixers’ need comes after Hukporti suffered an Achilles tear that will sideline him for the entire 2026-27 season. Philadelphia had signed the center to a one-year, $3.4 million contract during the offseason, but his injury has created a vacancy in its frontcourt plans.
Joel Embiid remains the centerpiece of Philadelphia’s interior rotation, while the team has undergone a major roster overhaul around him and Tyrese Maxey. The Sixers acquired Jaylen Brown in a blockbuster trade with the Boston Celtics and subsequently signed LeBron James, strengthening their championship ambitions for the upcoming season.
