While the Mavericks have anticipated trade inquiries on Daniel Gafford ever since they signed the veteran center to a three-year, $54MM extension in the offseason, they have shown no interest in moving him to this point, reports Marc Stein of The Stein Line (Substack link).
According to Stein, one primary reason why Dallas’ front office has been reluctant to even entertain the possibility of dealing Gafford is the fact that third-year center Dereck Lively II continues to be plagued by health issues, having played just three games this season due to a knee sprain that has him doubtful to suit up on Monday. Lively was limited to just 36 games last season.
However, the Mavericks’ poor start to the season — they’re currently 3-7 despite having a relatively easy, home-heavy schedule — might force management to rethink the idea of going into tank mode. As Stein observes, the Mavs only control one of their own first-rounders through 2030, and that selection will come in 2026 in what’s viewed as a strong draft class.
Gafford has battled a right ankle sprain himself this fall, making five appearances thus far in 2025/26. He’s averaging 8.8 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 19.6 minutes per contest, numbers that are down compared to the past two seasons. Still, Stein refers to the athletic big man as one of Dallas’ “most attractive trade candidates.”
The Nico curse will affect the Mavs until he’s gone.
They don’t have full control of their picks until after 2030 he will curse them long after he’s gone
Nico will get sacked.
Mavs aren’t a bad team they are just very big and riddled with injuries.
You’ve got Martin Naji PJ Cooper AD Lively and Gafford all quality players but log jammed between the 3, 4 and 5 spots. With a lack of quality guard option especially with Kyrie out.
Dlo isn’t what he was in LA or Brooklyn, Klay isn’t who he was in GSW, and both Hardy and Christie as back ups.
They kinda need to move off 1 or 2 of their bigger bodies for a more dynamic guard that can help stretch the floor, offer some ball handling and playmaking and make these guys jobs easier.
I’d be looking to make a deal and try turn this season around but finding suitors this early into the season ain’t going to be easy.
Maybe Celtcis
Derrick White and a protected future first for PJ Washington and Daniel Gafford.
Celtics have Simons and Pritchard who can fill the backcourt, Brown is the star while Tatum is out but you’d add in some good much needed size in PJ and Gafford and even when Tatum returns that’s a hell of a team.
For the Mavs, White would be solid as a fill in for Kyrie, could play either guard spot beside either Klay or Dlo, with Cooper AD and Lively as your bigs. Off the bench Dlo Christie Martin Naji and Powell I guess but you have Kyrie to return and a future first to build with.
I’d enquire on Coby White over in Chicago, he’s on a much easier contract to match where you could give up just 1 guy like Gafford or PJ.
Could make a similar deal for White but for Devin Vassell, like maybe PJ and Martin for Vassell and a couple seconds. It would be great for the Spurs and upgrading their forward spots.
Nah, they’re pretty bad. They built their entire roster around Luka (an Offensive dynamo w/ defensive limitations) and now don’t even have a PG to get the ball to their entirely dependent shooters and bigs.
On paper they have some talent but too much of it overlaps. They traded their flamethrower and are trying to start a fire by rubbing two sticks together.
Kyrie should’ve replaced Luka in terms of playmaking and offence but has been out obviously and so yeah they need to move a big or two to get back that guard that can help them
Kyrie is nowhere near the offensive player that Luka is. He was averaging 4 assists in 36 minutes after the Luka trade.
He’s a scorer, not a playmaker who is gonna be throwing lobs to limited bigs and crafty passes to off-ball shooters.
Celtics aren’t trading White.
Wouldn’t rule anything out for them, they traded away KP and Holiday and let Horford and Kornet walk for nothing.
Cashing in on White now makes sense, he’s signed long term, he’s 31 years old and they have a couple quality guards on the roster in Pritchard and Simons, they lack bigs and forwards.
Gafford and PJ are both 27 and both signed to relatively team friendly contracts in positions of need. They suit the time line better around Tatum (27) and Brown (29).
Big duo of Gafford and Queta, forwards Tatum PJ Hauser and Walsh and guards Pritchard Simons and Brown. That’s a solid 9 man rotation.
Let’s not forget what kind of cap situation they were in. Horford is 40 and Kornet was an easily replaceable piece for the money. KP and Jrue were the pieces they decided to trade away instead of White.
It’s obvious what assets they wanted to hold on to when they had to adjust Fire while Tatum is down.
That trade makes sense next year though so we’ll see what happens.
They’d be 3-7 with Luka too. Calm down.
Fire Nico
Wasn’t Flagg supposed to average somewhat like 65 PPG and 50 AST in his rookie season while shooting 95% from downtown and then doubling these first two numbers in his second year? I know, the season is still young and a lot can happen but when are we finally going to see the guy’s first 100 PTS game?! Time is running out.
Right now I’d settle for the occasional 60 PTS/ 40 AST performance and the ability to keep the score level in 1 vs. 5 situations for stretches of five to ten minutes, while his teammates rest on the bench. So far this has all been a big letdown.
Bulls should be all in on this but with so many contracts that are set to expire, they’ll probably be left out and AKME will say “we tried upgrading our interior defense”.