Pairing Luka Doncic with a rim-running big man who can play above the rim is a proven recipe for success. The Los Angeles Lakers superstar developed a fearsome partnership with Daniel Gafford during his time with the Dallas Mavericks.
It’s for that reason that Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley has proposed a trade to pair Gafford back with Doncic, only this time in Los Angeles. The trade idea looks like this:
Lakers Get: Daniel Gafford
Mavericks Get: Jarred Vanderbilt, Dalton Knecht and a 2031 first-round pick
“If the Lakers are going to dip into their limited draft-pick collection, they’d need to feel confident about seeing a return on that investment,” Buckley wrote. “And they absolutely would with Gafford, who’s already handled a starting gig on a previous NBA Finals run steered by Luka Doncic. Gafford’s low-maintenance, rim-running style would be perfect for the Purple and Gold. Deandre Ayton has had his moments in L.A., but he’s less than an ideal stylistic fit.”
According to PBP Stats, Doncic found Gafford 58 times during the 2023-24 regular season, generating 116 points. The Lakers superstar found the rim-running big man a further 25 times during the Mavericks’ postseason run to the NBA Finals, generating a further 50 points.
Adding Gafford to the Lakers roster would elevate JJ Redick’s team. Furthermore, it would provide Doncic with some familiarity, especially when running the break or looking to beat half-court defenses with a lob pass.
Lakers Need To Add More Depth
According to an NBA scout who recently spoke with ESPN’s Tim Bontemps, the Lakers are short on quality depth.
“Are they up there with Oklahoma City, Denver and Houston? No,” the scout told ESPN’s Tim Bontemps. “But they’re clearly in the top six. Their depth overall isn’t good, but their top-line talent makes them a team I wouldn’t want to see in the playoffs.”
While adding Gafford wouldn’t help round out the roster, it would provide additional competition in a key area. Bringing Ayton off the bench would be a luxury. Furthermore, Redick would have the option of rotating his front court to counteract unfavorable matchups.
The Lakers Need To Improve Around The Rim
Another reason why adding Gafford could be good for the Lakers is their troubles finishing within four feet of the rim. According to Cleaning The Glass, which has a built-in garbage-time filter, the Lakers are 22nd in the NBA for success at the rim. Redick’s team is shooting just 53.8% on its inside looks.
Gafford’s ability to throw down lobs, convert his layups and bully his way to the cup could alleviate some of those struggles. Interestingly, Redick recently addressed his team’s scoring issues when speaking to the roster after the Lakers defeated the Utah Jazz on Sunday, Nov. 23.
“I told the guys this after the game: We’re literally one of the worst shooting teams in the NBA right now,” Redick said. “I don’t think that’s who we are. We’ve gotta make shots, and we’ve gotta shoot ’em with confidence. To me, if we’re guarding at that level of physicality and passing so well — we had 23 assists but could have had 30 if we made shots. We’ve got to shoot the ball better, but there’s gotta be a belief in each other to knock down shots.”
Gafford makes a ton of sense for the Lakers. Given the Mavericks’ current issues, he could potentially be available, too. Whether Rob Pelinka makes a move will remain to be seen. However, it’s clear that an additional interior presence would help improve the current rotation.
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