The Lakers’ search for a center this summer is going to require them to find someone who can be the yin to Luka Dončić‘s yang as a pick-and-roll partner.
What better way to ensure a successful partnership than finding someone who already flourished alongside him?
While a trade with the Mavs may have once seemed unlikely, a complete rehaul of the front office and coaching staff almost certainly makes it more of a possibility moving forward. And a player they have been linked to, even in the aftermath of the Luka trade, has been Daniel Gafford.
The big man was a key piece of the Mavs’ run to the Finals and looked great alongside Luka. However, with the Mavs entering a new era led by Cooper Flagg, he could be one of the players the team looks to move on from.
In a recent article on his Substack, longtime NBA beat writer Marc Stein named Gafford as one of the veterans the Mavs are open to moving.
“Klay Thompson, P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford, as we speak, are the veterans that the Mavericks are seen as most open to trading … with Thompson drawing particular notice now that he’s entering the final season of his current contract valued at $17.5 million in 2026-27.”
One of the biggest selling points about Gafford is his contract. He’s set to make $17.2 million next season and is under contract through the 2028-29 season. That is a contract that is easy to find a trade package for that works financially.
On the flip side, perhaps the biggest downside for Gafford is his availability. He’s played just 57 and 55 games in the last two seasons. That said, he had three consecutive seasons of at least 70 games played just prior to that stretch.
If the Lakers are comfortable rolling the dice on his health, as they were with Marcus Smart last season, then a deal could be reached this summer. Pairing Dalton Knecht and Jarred Vanderbilt gets the Lakers into the range of matching salaries.
It would be a gamble for the Lakers to make a deal for Gafford, but it’s also a player who has had success with Luka. Is that enough to make them roll the dice and take the risk?
You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.
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