Daniel Gafford's days in Dallas might be numbered. With trade season heating up, the Mavs' efficient big man could be the odd one out in a crowded frontcourt.
With the NBA trade deadline creeping closer, all eyes are on the Dallas Mavericks, and one name keeps surfacing.
While fans and insiders keep dreaming about blockbuster moves involving stars like Anthony Davis, Bleacher Report's Grant Hughes is highlighting Daniel Gafford as the realistic piece Dallas could move when the wheeling and dealing begins.
"Davis' injury history and massive salary simply make it harder to deal him than Daniel Gafford," Hughes wrote. "Gafford is a highly efficient lob finisher who impacts the offensive glass and defends the rim. As conventional centers go, he's among the top dollars-to-production values around the league."
Gafford, who was acquired from the Wizards nearly two seasons ago, has been solid - helping the Mavericks reach the NBA Finals and holding his own as a rim protector and vertical threat.
But with Dereck Lively II seen as the long-term anchor (if he can stay healthy), and too many big men clogging up minutes, Gafford may no longer be part of Dallas' evolving core.
"In Dallas, where Davis is the top option and Lively projects as the higher long-term priority, Gafford seems like the obvious player to move," Hughes added.
That theory has legs.
The Mavs specifically structured Gafford's recent extension to bypass the standard six-month trade restriction - a sign they already saw him as a movable asset.
And his contract? A team-friendly $68.7 million over four years, making him an attractive mid-tier trade chip for teams looking for frontcourt help, especially playoff hopefuls desperate for a reliable rim-running center.
With his value peaking and the Mavericks needing to rebalance their roster, possibly adding a wing scorer or a defensive stopper, Gafford could be packaged in a deal sooner than later.
Until then, Gafford remains in uniform as the Mavericks face off Monday against the New Orleans Pelicans at 7 p.m. CT.
But if front office whispers become reality, fans might not be seeing him in a Mavericks uniform much longer.