The Dallas Mavericks refused to open the door for several hungry suitors on Moussa Cisse. There were reports that Cisse could be out to make room for Dwight Powell's veteran presence. That included chatter of the Los Angeles Lakers being quite interested in the young center.
There was no such luck for the Lakers and every other team circling like hungry piranhas. The Mavericks chose to stick with youth over experience. It was Powell who received the axe over Cisse amid the roster crunch in Dallas. Shams Charania reported the veteran center was waived on Monday.
Cisse was a fun player to envision alongside Luka Doncic. Alas, it was not meant to be. The discussion now shifts to wondering whether the Lakers would have any interest in the other center who the Mavericks just let go of.
Powell is incredibly familiar with Doncic. The former Mavericks vet was a constant in Dallas during Luka's time with the franchise. Does that familiarity warrant Rob Pelinka to consider the idea of adding the 35-year-old after his release?
Dwight Powell is now the center who the Lakers must weigh their options with
Cisse would have been a surefire addition who warranted little to no hesitation on the Lakers' part. Things are not that straightforward with Powell.
2025-26 was a quiet and unremarkable campaign for the veteran in Dallas. Powell averaged just 3.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 0.3 blocks in 14.3 minutes per game, primarily operating off the Mavericks bench.
Unlike Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II, Doncic did not have overwhelming chemistry with Powell. That is not to say it was bad. It was just not comparable to the connection Luka had with the other two.
Powell received such strong consideration to stay with the Mavericks due to the veteran presence he could offer a young team in Dallas. The Lakers do not have that need in Los Angeles. Kevon Looney is already around to say all the right things for their franchise.
Bringing up Looney does offer the most pertinent question for the Lakers: Is Powell better?
Clearly upgrading at the backup center spot would be the goal for Los Angeles with adding a new main roster big man. Powell may be much closer to a lateral move in that department.
Weighing all that will be important for the Lakers as they address their own roster crunch. Releasing one guy could be a given, if no trade options present themselves. Releasing two would only be done for the right player being available. Powell does not immediately present himself as that.
Add us as a preferred source on Google