Mavericks' early-season nightmare sparks trade rumor fans feared was coming

After last night’s loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, the Dallas Mavericks are officially 2-7 on the season, and this disastrous start has come with one trade rumor fans aren’t going to like. According to ClutchPoints NBA insider Brett Siegel, teams across the NBA are expected to keep an eye on Daniel Gafford as the February 5 trade deadline approaches.

This rumor could be the first sign that panic is beginning to set in on the Mavericks.

“Several teams are monitoring Daniel Gafford's status,” Siegel reported.

This doesn’t mean that Gafford is definitely going to be traded, but it does mean that some teams are at least monitoring his status in the case that Dallas has a fire sale amid one of the worst starts that we’ve seen in some time. It also doesn't help the Mavericks fans' case that want him to stay that Dallas explored trading him at last season's deadline, and the next few months could determine if "The Landlord" will be moving, or if he'll continue to set up shop in Dallas.

Mavericks' collapse has teams eyeing Daniel Gafford

Siegel reported that the Mavericks aren’t panicking just yet, but things couldn’t be going much worse at this point in the season.

Dallas has gone from making the 2024 NBA Finals to a bottom team in the league in less than a year and a half, and their vision from the last nine months has completely imploded.

While the Mavericks have reached their goal of being one of the better defenses in the NBA (sixth in defensive rating), their offense is the worst in the NBA. Their aggressive approach of prioritizing defense over offense has turned them into the worst offense in the league, and they may be forced to make a trade before the deadline if they want to somehow salvage the season.

There's no coming back from this with the way the current roster is built, and players who have been key to their success in the past may pay for it.

Gafford is a trade candidate that fans have speculated about ever since he signed the three-year, $54 million deal over the offseason, as this deal nearly triggered a six-month trade restriction that would’ve forced Dallas to keep him for the entire season. The fact that the deal avoided this trade restriction got Mavs fans thinking that he was expendable, and these early reports could end up confirming whether Dallas acts on Gafford's interest from around the league or if they stand pat.

The Mavericks’ massive frontcourt logjam, combined with their lack of guard depth, has always made it seem like Gafford is someone that they may be forced to trade, and we could see him get moved over the next few months.

In four games for Dallas this season, Gafford is averaging 9.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.0 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game while shooting an impressive 71.4 percent from the field. His minutes have been a bit down this season, as he is still recovering from an ankle sprain that he suffered during training camp. This caused him to miss the first five games of the season, and he has started in all four games he’s played in.

With Anthony Davis and Dereck Lively II’s constant injuries, Gafford is needed in Dallas, but this could change quickly. If the Mavericks don’t feel like they can compete for a playoff spot, they could decide to try to get as much of a return as they can for someone like Gafford, and contenders would likely be lining up out the door to get a chance to add him to their core.

He has already proven that he can be a reliable starter in today’s NBA, as he anchored the Mavs’ starting five on their way to the 2024 NBA Finals, and at the very least, he’d be an elite backup big.

His rim protection, energy, and finishing around the bucket are what’ve set him apart in Dallas, and Mavericks fans would hate to see him go. He has been a core piece of the Mavericks’ core for nearly two years, and seeing him go due to the Mavericks’ poor roster construction would be a tough watch.

Regardless of wherever Nico Harrison decides to send him.