Mavericks’ first free agency move already feels inevitable thanks to Masai Ujiri

Throw out almost everything you've previously assumed the Dallas Mavericks might do, as Masai Ujiri is now the lead decision-maker. And, no, that's not a bad thing. Ujiri has built several championship contenders as team president, and next up is Dallas. His first free agency move, however, may not be a blockbuster.

Instead, the Mavericks could open the offseason with a relatively quiet re-signing of Moussa Cisse, who fits exactly the type of player Ujiri has consistently valued throughout his career.

How Moussa Cisse fits the Masai Ujiri archetype

Moussa Cisse is a 6-foot-11 big man with a 7-foot-4 wingspan. He's a hyperactive defender, a high-energy presence, and the ideal two-way, rim-rolling interior deterrent nearly every team could use.

However, even at 23 years old, Cisse is still developing offensively. He doesn't shoot beyond 10 feet, nor does he put the ball on the floor much. At this point, he is what he is offensively, and that may never fully change.

Nonetheless, Cisse fits Ujiri's mold. The longtime NBA executive has consistently coveted this type of long, athletic archetype.

For what it's worth, Ujiri has been even more successful identifying versatile two-way wings, with arguably his biggest success story being 27th-overall pick, turned multi-time All-Star Pascal Siakam. Still, mobile defensive bigs have been one of Ujiri's calling cards. From drafting Kenneth Faried to helping revive Bismack Biyombo's career, Ujiri has consistently gotten strong value out of this archetype.

Ujiri’s global basketball footprint

Yet, there's another layer to this fit. Moussa Cisse was born in Conakry, Guinea. Ujiri himself wasn't born in Africa, but was born in England to two African parents. He then moved to Nigeria at a young age and lived there from age two through his teenage years.

Since then, Ujiri has remained deeply connected to basketball across Africa. He founded Giants of Africa and also served as director of the NBA's Basketball Without Borders Africa program, helping grow the game throughout the continent.

Thus, Ujiri's African ties have been evident throughout his NBA tenure. During his time with the Toronto Raptors, 11 players with African roots suited up under his leadership, most notably OG Anunoby, Serge Ibaka, Biyombo, and Siakam.

Continuing that trend, Moussa Cisse could be next in line, and he's more than deserving of another season in Dallas. It's also worth noting that he was in attendance for Ujiri's introductory press conference at the American Airlines Center.

The 6-foot-11 big man proved to be an ideal depth center behind Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford. Normally, carrying a reliable third center could be viewed as more of a luxury, but it's a necessity for the Mavericks given the injury history of Lively and Gafford. Because of that, expect Dallas to prioritize bringing Cisse back once free agency begins.

But in the end, it’s not even about necessity. It’s about Ujiri’s preferred archetype and his established track record, both of which Cisse fits squarely into.

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