​EL SEGUNDO, CA – SEPTEMBER 20: Rob Pelinka discusses the upcoming Los Angeles Lakers’ season at UCLA Health Training Center on September 20, 2018 in El Segundo, California. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images) GettyHOUSTON, TEXAS – JANUARY 31: Moussa Cisse #30 of the Dallas Mavericks dunks the ball in the second half between Reed Sheppard #15 of the Houston Rockets and Josh Okogie #20 at Toyota Center on January 31, 2026 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) GettyTime is running out for the Los Angeles Lakers to decide on their roster situation. They have to trim to 15 standard contracted players. While cutting a piece is likely, a trade to further boost the team is preferred.According to Lake Show Life’s Svyastoslav Rovenchuk, one position the Lakers should look into is a backup to Walker Kessler in the center spot, and one name is Dallas Mavericks center Moussa Cisse.The situation for Cisse to get into Dallas’ rotation is hanging in the air especially with longtime veteran center Dwight Powell still in the mix.“Despite holding tight to Cisse throughout the summer, Powell is primed to force the Mavericks to make a tough call between the two,” Rovenchuk wrote. “If Dallas elects to go with the 35-year-old vet over the 24-year-old youngster, the Lakers will not be far from the phone lines.”Cisse, the former Big 12 Co-Defensive Player of Year, has been actively involved in all three of the Mavs preseason games so far and has been impressive to say the least. However, there are no guarantees that he remains on the roster ahead of the regular season tip-off in the coming weeks.Lakers Urged to Take Cisse “In a Heartbeat”GettyHOUSTON, TEXAS – JANUARY 31: Moussa Cisse #30 of the Dallas Mavericks dunks the ball in the second half between Reed Sheppard #15 of the Houston Rockets and Josh Okogie #20 at Toyota Center on January 31, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
Dallas matched a restricted free agent offer sheet from the New York Knicks to sign Cisse. He signed a two-year deal of roughly $4.7 million, with a guaranteed salary this upcoming season. That kind of deal is a cheap one for a backup piece and one that the Mavs will have no problem keeping.However, Powell’s veteran minimum deal is not far off that which brings it down to the choice of either him or the much younger Cisse. According to Jovan Buha, the Lakers should hope that the latter is the one to be moved as he will be a good enough backup to Kessler. There is also a workaround the Lakers could use to sign him. “You could dangle the backup job to Cisse and be like, ‘Hey, we’re gonna sign you on a two-way. We’re obviously gonna save some money, but we’re gonna give you the backup spot,’ Buha said. “Assuming you perform well, we wil