Should the New Orleans Pelicans explore a trade for Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford?
The New Orleans Pelicans are still looking around for the right deal to be made. While waiting on other moves to come to fruition has kept them from getting some of the big fish, that doesn't mean that there aren't any good options left on the table.
With how much free money the Pelicans had entering free agency, it always felt like the trade market was where New Orleans was going to find its best deal.
One area which could still be addressed this offseason is the front court. Derik Queen and Yves Missi are a good young duo, but last year showed they aren't quite yet ready to run the show on their own. Zion Williamson makes for a weird fit. They also got rid of their only real enforcer in Kevon Looney.
Finding the right center could be the puzzle piece to turn this into the playoff roster that it has felt like it should be.
One intriguing name that has seemingly become available for trade recently is Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford. While the Mavericks are getting healthier with Kyrie Irving coming back, they are also preparing for this to be the Cooper Flagg era. Gafford is going to be 28 next year and making almost $20 million. That is enough to make him expendable right now.
That, however, makes him right in line with what the Pelicans are trying to do. He is in the same age range as Trey Murphy, Herbert Jones and Williamson. This is a core that could play together with ease for the next couple of seasons while also fitting with Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen if things go really well.
Gafford put up 9.5 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists last year while shooting 65.5% from the field and 68.3% from the line. It was a step down in production, which is perhaps why Dallas is ready to move on from him.
He is an efficient scorer, can block shots and rebounds well. Having someone who could space the floor a bit would be perfect, but New Orleans can potentially work around that.
As things currently stand, the Pelicans could send away Jordan Hawkins and draft capital to the Mavericks and be ok, but there are a few more money moves to be made before they call it day. From a pure basketball standpoint, Gafford absolutely makes sense as a target for New Orleans.
