The trade deadline additions of Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington make the Mavericks a deeper and more explosive team, writes Brad Townsend of The Dallas Morning News (subscription required). The new-look roster thrived in Gafford’s and Washington’s Dallas debut on Saturday as the Mavs scored a franchise-record 47 points in the first quarter and blew out the Thunder by a score of 146-111.
“There’s going to be nights when we shoot 45 to 47 threes, and there’s going to be nights where we can dominate the paint as we did today,” head coach Jason Kidd said after the win, adding that he’s already thinking about how to manage the frontcourt duo of Gafford and Dereck Lively once the rookie center gets healthy. “… It’s good to have these options. Because we didn’t have these options earlier.”
Luka Doncic, who scored 32 points on 9-of-14 shooting in just 31 minutes, embraced the newcomers, as Townsend writes. Three of Doncic’s nine assists were on baskets by Gafford, whom Luka referred to as the sort of backup center “I’ve wanted for like three years.”
“It means a lot because it gives me the opportunity to show what I’m good at,” Gafford said. “Running the floor. Running the floor. Catching lobs. Rebounding. Screaming. At the end of the day I’m just doing my job and pretty much he was helping me to my job tonight.”
Here’s more on the Mavs:
- New Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont isn’t just a businessman who views the team as a passive investment, according to Townsend (subscription required), who spoke exclusively to one of the key members of the new ownership group about his basketball fandom, his involvement in the team’s roster machinations, and his hopes to build a new Dallas-area arena and entertainment resort. Townsend shares more of Dumont’s comments on that prospective arena and casino-resort in a separate story.
- Appearing on 97.1 FM in Dallas with Marc Stein on Saturday (Twitter link via Mavs Film Room), Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison pushed back on a report from Tim MacMahon of ESPN, who said that Grant Williams had “personality clashes” and “rubbed a lot of people the wrong way” in Dallas. “Grant doesn’t deserve the negativity he’s getting on social media,” Harrison said. “… He was a good teammate.”
- The second-round draft picks the Mavericks received in their trade with the Hornets are Boston’s 2024 pick and the least favorable of the Hornets’ and Clippers’ 2028 picks, MacMahon confirms (Twitter link).
- If the top-two protected 2027 first-round pick the Mavericks sent the Hornets in that same trade ends up at No. 1 or 2 and Dallas keeps it, Charlotte will instead receive Miami’s 2028 second-round pick, reports ESPN’s Bobby Marks (Twitter link).
mavs might make it out the west but yall aren’t ready for that convo
Jason Kidd has been superb guiding the Dallas Mavericks on the sidelines …. ya’ll ain’t ready for that convo.
Mavs might not make out of the play-in but you aren’t ready for that convos
Perhaps you missed the updated official Power Rankings … Dallas is not projected in the Play-In. They are on the rise.
The “official Power Rankings”?
Are you joking?
“If the top-two protected 2027 first-round pick the Mavericks sent the Hornets in that same trade ends up at No. 1 or 2 and Dallas keeps it, Charlotte will instead receive Miami’s 2028 second-round pick, reports ESPN’s Bobby Marks.”
I highly doubt Dallas ends up in the lottery in ’27, but man, if they do, this trade looks worse than it already did from a Hornets fan’s perspective. #FireMitch
A potencial No.3 pick, conveying into a second rounder instead, surely sounds as a Big dropoff. Nevertheless, I like the trade deadline for Charlotte. They can have more hope than yesterday. Grant Williams gets criticized for his subpar numbers, but is a very good piece, team player and with good demeanor and strong personality. Good for a rebuilding team. I like Seth Curry’s addition, with Dell’s family ties. Add LaMelo, the emergence of Brandon Miller, hope for continúes development of Mark Williams (and Nick Richards can become a good piece), bring more good hardworking players, and then you have something cooking.
I’m sorry for Kai Jones, hope he gets another chance. Dude has a Lot of tools to be succesful. Still a very young kid. Hope a good veteran post player puts him under his wing and tutors him. Has lots of tools.
Mavs fans were happy about Grant the first few weeks too. I get it. I would caution you though.
@Luke Adam’s –
Did Dal ever get any protections on the 28 swap w Okc ?
Was never reported day of and at time of trade Woj didn’t have the complete details , haven’t seen official details update anywhere as well since
I found that Okc / Dal business super interesting
Almost certain it was unprotected. Don’t know if anyone ever reported that explicitly, and RealGM’s official list hasn’t been updated yet. But if there were protections, Dallas certainly would’ve leaked those by now to make the deal look as good as possible.
Gracias LA