Trade rumors are heating up with the Feb. 6 trade deadline approaching. The Dallas Mavericks are looking for some of the help available as they hope to get back to the NBA Finals for a second consecutive season.
According to Christian Clark of The Athletic, Mavericks center Daniel Gafford could be on the move in search of perimeter defense help. Forward Herb Jones has been on their radar, but it would likely take more than Gafford to successfully acquire him from the New Orleans Pelicans.
However, the idea of trading Gafford away isn’t universally popular among Mavs fans.
“I don’t know who needs to hear this, but Daniel Gafford isn’t the problem. He’s vital to our success, once Luka Doncic returns,” one fan wrote.
One Mavericks fan account speculates that Dallas’ general manager Nico Harrison would only trade the Arkansas product for an “obvious upgrade on the wing,” but the player they’d get would look more like an “8th-10th man instead of a clear 6/7th man with starter potential.” Of course, this is just an assumption made by a fan of the organization.
NBA Insider Marc Stein also relayed that Luka Doncic is a “notable admirer” of Gafford which shouldn’t come as a surprise because Gafford is one of his primary lob threats. Unless acquiring an impact wing defender such as Jones is feasible, the Mavs may want to consider holding off on trading Gafford, especially because Dereck Lively II is nursing an ankle injury.
Having enough rim protection and rebounding is important during the playoffs, and Dallas thrived with Gafford and Lively splitting the minutes at the center position during last season’s run to the NBA Finals.
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