Before making the incredibly sensible and reasonable trade to send Luka Dončić to the Lakers, the Mavs have pieced together a formidable roster that made the Finals.
For LA, there would be sound rationale, then, to potentially pick off some of the players that had success in Dallas with Luka and bring them to California. However, the front office looks to be set on building things out their own way.
Reports about a hesitancy to bring in PJ Washington have already existed and, during a recent show on Bleacher Report, Jake Fischer reiterated the Lakers’ lack of interest in both Washington as well as center Daniel Gafford.
“I know Lakers fans want to keep drawing a line to a trade with Dallas for either PJ Washington or Gafford because of their success with Luka Dončić. I really don’t have any inclination that the Lakers have had trade talks about either of those guys of real consequence this offseason.”
However you feel about Washington’s fit on the Lakers, the team clearly feels his contract, which runs through the 2029-30 season, is not worth trading for. On paper, he fills a need for the team, but that deal is guaranteed longer than anyone currently on the Lakers’ roster, including Luka, Austin Reaves or Walker Kessler.
Gafford, meanwhile, is a player who made more sense prior to the team acquiring Kessler. Gafford’s injury woes in recent seasons limit how much he can be counted upon. He also has a contract guaranteed through 2028-29 and is set to make over $18 million per season in the final two years of the deal.
The Lakers have more pressing issues, as well, than the center position. While the center depth isn’t great, trading the limited assets they have for Gafford might not make the most sense.
For now, the Lakers aren’t revisiting a trade with Dallas. But if the hole remains at the forward position or the team’s depth at center becomes an issue, it wouldn’t be a shock to see them linked to the Mavericks down the road again.
You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.
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