It’s been nearly 16 months since the Dallas Mavericks traded Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers, but the two sides could find themselves making another deal this offseason.
ESPN contributor Zach Kram suggests the trade that would send center Daniel Gafford to the Lakers for Jarred Vanderbilt, Dalton Knecht, and the No. 25 overall pick in the 2026 NBA draft.
“This deal should be a no-brainer for the Lakers, as they’d address their glaring hole at the center position — which would still exist even
if Deandre Ayton exercised his option for next season — with a player who’s a proven fit next to Doncic. Gafford would certainly help the Lakers more next season than any rookie they could draft with the No. 25 pick,” Kram wrote.
“On the other side, Dallas lost a 2028 pick swap when it acquired Gafford at the 2024 trade deadline, but it could recoup some of that value and add another young player here. The Mavericks also would clear future cap space, with Gafford signed for more money and years (through the 2028-29 season) than Vanderbilt.”
Gafford took a step back this season with the Mavericks, averaging 9.5 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. That was slightly below his 12.3 points per game during the 2024-25 campaign. Gafford’s 3-year extension is about to go into effect, and the Mavs will have to pay him $54 million over the next three seasons, with Dereck Lively II also on the roster.
This is a big season coming up for Lively in terms of whether he will be a long-term part of the Mavs, so the team needs to get the best look on what he can do as long as he is healthy.
With all of the change surrounding the Mavs at the moment, moving on from Gafford could be in the cards as the team looks to get younger around Cooper Flagg.
MM community, what do you make of the trade suggestion? Chime off in the comments section below.
