The Mavericks can expect some offensive "connection" on the perimeter from center Daniel Gafford.
Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford will remain a key part of the team's rotation as it enters the Dusty May era.
While Dereck Lively II continues rehabbing from foot surgery, Gafford will assume his role from the prior two and a half seasons he's spent in Dallas: an "old-school" rim-running big man.
Since he was acquired midway through the 2023-24 season, Gafford has made over 70 percent of his shots, many of which come within two feet of the basket.
May has clearly recognized the efficiency in describing how Gafford stands out among centers in the league.
"When we started studying him this summer, we dove into the numbers and he's one of the best finishers around the rim in the league," May said at training camp this weekend. "And you watch him and his ability to score quickly, score through contact, move the ball around. It's something he can already hang his hat on."
The first-year NBA coach also believes he can unlock a larger role for Gafford, who is expected to be in the starting lineup at the beginning of the season for Dallas.
"We're just trying to add a little more to his game as far as being a play-making decision-maker on the perimeter," May said. "In our words, he'd be a 'connector' on offense. ... He's gonna shoot a few rhythm threes, he's gonna rim protect, we've gotta get him a little better at switching onto smaller players...
"He has a lot of ways he can help this team."
And in regard to that outside shot ... Gafford has not made a 3-pointer in his NBA career.
But he's only shot once, back in the final week of the 2021-22 season as a member of the Wasington Wizards in a game against the Chicago Bulls.
May knows about this limited experience, but said, "as long as he continues to earn the right" he's okay with Gafford putting them up. The coach said Gafford made his only 3-point attempt in live scrimmage play earlier in the day on Sunday.
"And big men typically have big men on them, so it’s easier for them to get clean catches, to get catches in the right and better position," May added. “"But each game calls for something a little bit different. It just gives us a little more diversity on offense and a little more variety for the other teams to scout."
Throughout last season, Gafford dealt with a lingering ankle injury sustained last training camp. He appeared in 55 games, making 44 starts, and averaged 9.5 points and 6.9 rebounds per game.
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May has shown the ability to develop frontcourt players' perimeter shots. Mavs Film Room on X/Twitter noted how each of May's former players from last year's Michigan Wolverines team - including Mavs rookie Morez Johnson Jr. - improved their perimeter shooting under May's guidance.
Johnson went from no prior attempts to 35 3-pointers put up at Michigan last season. Seven-footer Aday Mara began shooting his first career college threes while being coached by May, as well, and Yaxel Lendeborg improved his 3-point percentage by two whole points while shooting nearly twice as much from the outside.
That resulted in the trio each getting drafted in the lottery after winning a national championship last season.
May is entering a new challenge in his first stint in the NBA, but he's leaning on a familiar development strategy in giving his big men the freedom to operate on the perimeter.
Those opportunities - and maybe Gafford's first make from downtown - will be well-received on a Mavs team that struggled to shoot the ball last season.
