The Lakers should trade for Daniel Gafford.
The Los Angeles Lakers’ offseason blueprint is becoming clearer with each passing week, and it centers squarely on surrounding Luka Doncic with the kind of complementary talent that can elevate him to another NBA Finals. After an up-and-down first season pairing Doncic with Deandre Ayton, Los Angeles appears poised to make a significant move at the center position — and the target is a familiar face from Luka’s past.
According to a recent ESPN mock trade, the Lakers are eyeing a reunion with Daniel Gafford. The proposed deal would send Jarred Vanderbilt, Dalton Knecht, and the Lakers’ 25th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for the athletic big man.
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Daniel Gafford Dallas Mavericks Receive: Jarred Vanderbilt, Dalton Knecht, 2026 25th overall pick
The fit makes perfect sense on multiple levels. In his eight-year NBA career, Doncic has reached the NBA Finals just once — in 2024 with the Mavericks, the same season Dallas acquired Gafford at the trade deadline. That playoff run showcased one of the most effective two-man games in the league: Luka’s visionary passing paired with Gafford’s elite lob-catching and rim protection.
While the Ayton experiment offered a more finesse-oriented big who could stretch the floor, it ultimately highlighted what Luka has always thrived with — a brute-force, vertical threat who can finish above the rim at a high clip and anchor the defense. Gafford proved to be exactly that during their time together in Dallas.
The chemistry between Doncic and Gafford in the pick-and-roll was instantaneous and electric. It became the Mavericks’ safety net — a reliable, high-percentage option when plays broke down or the shot clock dwindled. For a Lakers team that lacked that consistent, easy-action reliability last season, adding Gafford would immediately upgrade their offense.
Luka relied heavily on Jaxson Hayes as his primary lob threat this past season. While Hayes had moments, Gafford performs the same role at a noticeably higher level — with better efficiency, more physicality, and greater defensive impact. On the other end of the floor, Gafford’s ability to protect the rim and cover for Luka’s occasional perimeter lapses was evident during their 2024 Western Conference run.
From the Mavericks’ perspective, the trade also carries logic. With a front-office and coaching overhaul underway and growing speculation about a potential rebuild around Cooper Flagg, parting ways with Gafford has been discussed as a realistic possibility. The three-year, roughly $18 million annual deal is manageable, but in a full teardown scenario, Dallas could value the immediate help of Vanderbilt, the upside of Knecht, and an additional first-round pick.
This move would also allow Lakers GM Rob Pelinka to address the center position without a major free-agency commitment, preserving flexibility for further roster upgrades. It aligns perfectly with Los Angeles’ reported desire to reconstruct the successful supporting cast that helped carry Dallas to the 2024 Finals.
Bringing back Gafford wouldn’t just be a smart basketball decision — it would be a reunion of a proven winner with his pick-and-roll soulmate. In a league where star-big tandems often define championship contention, few combinations have clicked as naturally as Luka Doncic and Daniel Gafford did when it mattered most.
If the Lakers can make this trade a reality, they won’t just be adding a center. They’ll be restoring a connection that once terrorized the Western Conference — this time with the purple and gold.