The Dallas Mavericks could find themselves again talking to the Los Angeles Lakers.
According to Bleacher Report’s NBA insider Jake Fischer, the Lakers have a strong interest in Mavericks center Daniel Gafford amid the uncertainty in Dallas.
New team governor Patrick Dumont — who recently dismissed general manager Nico Harrison and restructured basketball operations — is now evaluating roster options around No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg and to undo the catastrophic Luka Dončić trade. The Mavericks’ appetite to trade Gafford will be contingent on what Anthony Davis‘ trade market is when the Feb. 5 deadline rolls around.
The Mavericks are still trying to recover from last season’s controversial trade that sent Dončić to the Lakers, a move that triggered widespread backlash and contributed to Harrison’s exit.
Why Gafford Still Holds Trade Value
Just hours after Mark Cuban told The Athletic that the Dallas Mavericks don’t have plans of trading Anthony Davis, NBA insider Shams Charania claimed the front office actually is listening to trade ideas for their star big man.
According to Fischer, Cuban’s statement is more of “posturing,” and he believes the Mavericks will ultimately trade Davis, but “not from a position of weakness.”
If Davis’ trade market does not develop, then Gafford could be the one to go to bring balance to a Mavericks roster that lacks on-ball creators.
Gafford, 27, has been one of the most efficient rolling big men in the league, offering rim protection and elite finishing as a pick-and-roll threat — exactly the skill set that historically maximized Dončić’s playmaking.
He is averaging 10.3 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.6 blocks while shooting 66.1% from the field this season, ranking top 10 among NBA centers in field-goal percentage and top 8 among centers in blocks.
Gafford’s defensive efficiency and vertical spacing helped power Dallas during its postseason runs with Dončić, including their trip to the NBA Finals in 2024. His utility has made him a strong fit on a roster that now lacks the offensive initiator he once complemented.
Contract Makes Gafford Easy to Move
GettyDaniel Gafford of the Dallas Mavericks is drawing trade interest from the Los Angeles Lakers.
Gafford’s current deal — $54 million over three years — was structured specifically to allow Dallas trade flexibility. The extension avoided a six-month trade restriction, leaving him eligible to be moved this season, which Fischer noted was intentional.
Because of his manageable salary and age, he profiles as a realistic target for several teams searching for a starter or defensive upgrade. Executives around the league consider him “one of the most movable starters at his price point,” per Fischer.
Dallas Could Make a Philosophical Pivot
The Mavericks are moving away from Harrison’s three-to-four-year title window and focusing on building a sustained success around Flagg’s upside rather than maintaining short-term competitiveness with mid-tier veterans, according to Charania. That approach mirrors moves made by Oklahoma City and Houston in recent years — prioritizing long-term ceiling over immediate wins.
Gafford could fetch future first-round picks or young rotation players, which Dallas currently lacks after multiple seasons of win-now trades. Fischer noted that if the Mavericks begin actively listening to offers, Gafford would “draw strong interest.”
Will Dallas Pull the Trigger?
The path forward depends heavily on whether Dumont wants to pivot quickly or attempt to keep a functional roster around an aging veteran core. Some within the organization believe Gafford should remain a stabilizer next to Flagg, especially if a new primary ball-handler is added in the offseason.
Others argue that the franchise must fully reset to maximize Flagg’s development window.
Whatever the decision, Gafford’s situation signals Dallas is not standing pat, and more roster changes are likely to follow the front-office shakeup.
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