The Los Angeles Lakers are in desperate need of a center to bolster their frontcourt after trading away Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks in a controversial deal for Luka Dončić at the 2024 trade deadline. The move left the Lakers scrambling, with Rui Hachimura and Dorian Finney-Smith playing out of position at center during the playoffs. Now, as the Lakers look to rebuild their roster, one name has surfaced as a potential target: Mavericks center Daniel Gafford, a former teammate of Dončić. But despite the Lakers’ interest, a trade with Dallas seems highly unlikely—and for good reason.
Why the Lakers Want Daniel Gafford
According to Sam Quinn of CBS Sports, Gafford is one of 22 potential center options for the Lakers, and his fit is compelling. Gafford’s synergy with Dončić in Dallas was so strong that Slovenia reportedly considered naturalizing him for Olympic play. His skill set as a pick-and-roll partner is nearly perfect: he’s agile enough to navigate tight defenses, athletic enough to finish high lobs, and strong enough to power through contact. Gafford has also developed into a reliable rim-protector in Dallas, a marked improvement from his earlier stints with the Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards. His offensive rebounding and high efficiency have earned him praise from advanced metrics, making him an attractive option for a Lakers team in need of a frontcourt anchor.
Additionally, Gafford’s contract is appealing. His $14.3 million salary for the 2025-26 season is relatively affordable, and his 2026 free agency means a low cap hold, preserving flexibility for the Lakers. With Dallas loaded in the frontcourt—featuring players like Dereck Lively II—and facing future financial constraints, Gafford could be expendable, especially as the Mavericks prioritize acquiring a guard or assets for future trades.
The Catch: Why the Mavericks Won’t Deal with the Lakers
Despite Gafford’s fit, a trade between the Lakers and Mavericks is a long shot. The primary reason? The lingering sting of the Dončić-Davis trade. Mavericks fans and analysts widely view the deal as a disaster for Dallas, with general manager Nico Harrison as the lone defender of the trade’s value. The Mavericks feel fleeced by Lakers GM Rob Pelinka, who secured a generational talent in Dončić while Dallas received a package many consider underwhelming. This history makes Dallas hesitant to engage in further deals with the Lakers, especially for a player as valuable as Gafford.
Moreover, Gafford’s role in Dallas complicates matters. While he’s a perfect complement to a playmaker like Dončić, his minutes were limited in the 2024 playoffs, with Dereck Lively II taking precedence. Gafford’s strengths—rim protection, finishing, and offensive rebounding—are offset by weaknesses, such as poor defensive rebounding and struggles defending pick-and-rolls. He’s a tweener: too talented for a bench role but not quite a full-time starter. For the Lakers, acquiring him would likely require a steep price, such as guard Austin Reaves, without draft picks attached—a deal Harrison would be wise to demand after the Dončić fiasco but one the Lakers are unlikely to offer.
The Bigger Picture: Trust and Strategy
Beyond Gafford’s fit, the Mavericks’ reluctance stems from strategic and emotional factors. Harrison cannot afford another misstep after the Dončić trade backlash. Trading Gafford to the Lakers, especially in a deal that doesn’t overwhelmingly favor Dallas, would risk further alienating the fanbase and undermining his credibility. The Mavericks also value Gafford’s chemistry with their roster, particularly as a backup to Lively, and see no urgency to move him to a rival like the Lakers.
For the Lakers, the dream of pairing Gafford with their new-look roster is tantalizing but unrealistic. Pelinka likely inquired about Gafford during the Dončić negotiations, but Dallas’s frontcourt depth and financial priorities have shifted. The Mavericks are more likely to trade Gafford to a non-conference team or hold onto him until his free agency in 2026 rather than help a Western Conference foe.
Conclusion
The Lakers’ interest in Daniel Gafford makes sense on paper: he’s a dynamic big man who could address their glaring need at center. But the bad blood from the Dončić-Davis trade and Dallas’s strategic priorities make a deal highly improbable. Nico Harrison would need an offer too good to refuse—like Austin Reaves with no draft capital attached—and even then, the Mavericks would likely hesitate to deal with Pelinka again. For now, the Lakers will have to look elsewhere to solve their frontcourt woes, while Dallas focuses on rebuilding around Anthony Davis and avoiding another trade misstep.