Should Nets Strengthen Center Depth by Trading for Gafford?

Center depth is a weakness for the Brooklyn Nets after the Julius Randle trade, and they could strengthen their big man rotation by trading for Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford.

NBA correspondent Marc Stein reported Dallas is "actively fielding offers" for the 27-year-old. Gafford is a high-energy big man who protects the rim and is a reliable lob threat, which is what Brooklyn needs.

The Nets had that in Nic Claxton, but his salary was absorbed into the Chicago Bulls' cap space in the four-team Randle deal on June 29. Claxton's departure made room for Day'Ron Sharpe, who is highly viewed by the team, as the starter.

Sharpe also has a high motor, as he holds the highest career offensive rebounding percentage in NBA history. He's a possession monster, but he underwent season-ending surgery to repair a torn UCL in his left thumb in March.

If he were to miss time next season, coach Jordi Fernández is likely to play Randle as a small-ball center or forward Danny Wolf as the anchor. Wolf has the size of a center at 6-foot-11, but does not have the shot-blocking ability to anchor a defense, averaging 0.5 blocks per game.

Gafford would immediately fill the void left by Claxton while giving Brooklyn insurance behind Sharpe. His experience starting in Washington and coming off the bench in Dallas suggests he could handle either role without disrupting the rotation.

General manager Sean Marks could help pair Gafford with rookie guard Mikel Brown Jr., giving him a vertical pick-and-roll partner, something Brooklyn currently lacks.

The Mavericks acquired Gafford for Richaun Holmes and a 2024 first-round pick, a package Brooklyn could realistically match. General manager Sean Marks has an abundance of assets at his disposal in potential talks with new Mavericks general manager, Masai Ujiri.

He is earning $17.2 million next season; the Nets could trade Terance Mann ($15.5 million) straight up with picks attached or also add Nolan Traoré ($4 million) as a sweetener.

Trading Traoré would mean moving on from a recent first-round investment, but his path to consistent minutes has become increasingly crowded. After missing Summer League following knee surgery and the additions Brown Jr. and Keon Ellis joining the backcourt, it's difficult to envision a significant role for him.

If Brooklyn views itself as ready to compete for a playoff spot, paying for a proven rim protector like Gafford may be a worthwhile gamble. If not, betting on Sharpe's development and preserving future draft capital could be the smarter long-term play.

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