The Boston Celtics have emerged as a potential suitor for Daniel Gafford, the starting center of the Dallas Mavericks team they beat to hang Banner No. 18 in 2024.
NBA analyst Jake Weinbach noted on X that the Celtics are seeking a long-term starting center ahead of the Feb. 5 trade deadline, naming Gafford as a potential target.
“The Celtics are among the teams that should be linked to Daniel Gafford leading up to the trade deadline this season,” Weinbach wrote on X.
“Boston is expected to be in the market for a long-term solution at center. Dallas will be listening to offers for the 27-year-old rim protector.”
Gafford averaged 8.0 points and 4.4 rebounds in 14.8 minutes across five games of the 2024 NBA Finals, while splitting playing time with Dereck Lively II. He started all 22 games for the Mavericks during their magical playoff run as their main rim protector.
The 27-year-old Gafford is signed on a budget-friendly deal through the 2028-29 season, making him an ideal long-time solution for Joe Mazzulla’s team.
Celtics Trade Buzz
Weinbach’s report lines up with widespread reporting that the Celtics prefer to use the Anfernee Simons trade chip to make front-court upgrades. The Celtics lost Al Horford and Luke Kornet to free agency this past summer, after trading Kristaps Porzingis to gain luxury-tax relief, thereby losing most of their frontcourt depth.
While Neemias Queta has fared excellently in his first season as a starter, the C’s could use a few more quality front-court players before their playoff run.
NBA insider Jake Fischer recently reported that the Celtics initially wanted to use Simons as a salary dump to escape the luxury tax, but changed their outlook after watching Jaylen Brown and Co. consolidate the third seed in the East.
“…So imagine the Celtics turning Simons’ deal into a frontcourt contributor. Perhaps then the Celts could truly challenge the likes of Detroit and New York in a wide-open conference, even if [Jayson] Tatum stays sidelined for the entire season,” he reported.
Anfernee Simons Trade Suitors?
Fischer added that the Celtics aren’t opposed to holding onto Simons, who comes off the books as an unrestricted free agent this summer.
“Yet I must pass along that sources with knowledge of the Celtics’ thinking say Boston could very well elect to keep Simons, too. I’ve been told that they are willing to pay some level of luxury tax this season after the many millions they shed in the offseason by offloading Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porziņģis.”
The Celtics may have no option but to keep Simons, as the eighth-year guard doesn’t have much of a market, per one Eastern Conference executive.
“There’s no market for the guy,” the exec told Heavy Sports’ Sean Deveney.
“They’ve been trying to find a market for (Simons) for a few months now, and it is not there. They’re still trying.”
The Celtics have also been linked to the LA Clippers‘ Ivica Zubac ahead of the Feb. 5 trade deadline, while some insiders have floated a potential reunion with the Portland Trail Blazers‘ Robert Williams III.
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