Mavericks forced into brutal Daniel Gafford dilemma after Anthony Davis' injury

Following the news that Anthony Davis damaged ligaments in his hand and could miss the remainder of the regular season, fan-favorite center Daniel Gafford instantly vaulted into one of the team's most tradable assets. Surrounded by names like Naji Marshall and Klay Thompson, Gafford is one of the few Mavs who could be looked at as a positive asset if the Mavericks do decide to enter a full tanking mode in the hopes of acquiring a better 2026 draft pick.

Gafford could offer plenty of skills to a championship-level team looking to take the leap into the contending category, but at the same time, the Mavericks may suffer without a player of Gafford's pedigree, which is why trading him may be an ultimate loss. For Cooper Flagg, it should be one of the team's top priorities to develop him and allow him to get as many reps during his rookie season, and without a paint presence of Gafford's magnitude, a young Dallas squad could severely suffer.

To make matters worse, the Mavericks have minimal depth behind Gafford, with both Lively II and Davis now possibly out for the season. While it is true that Moussa Cisse could receive more playing time with an increased role, Gafford offers way more on and off the court than a few veteran contracts and a possible future first-round pick if the Mavericks are serious about developing Flagg in the right system.

Trading Daniel Gafford may be an ultimate loss for the Mavericks

It goes without saying that trying to operate an NBA-level offense or even defense without a center presence down low is near impossible if you aren't jacking up a million three-point shots. For the Mavericks, this could be their reality soon if they truly decide to go full into tanking and part ways with Gafford.

While the Mavericks would have a big man group of Cisse, Dwight Powell, and whatever other big man they received in a trade, it simply would not be good enough for a rookie Flagg and Ryan Nembhard to develop into the players Dallas needs them to be.

Trading Gafford for some draft compensation would make perfect sense if Davis were healthy, but without a hint of trustworthy center play behind Gafford, the Mavericks can't afford to trade the big man even if the team is trying to lose as many games as possible.

Gafford may garner plenty of attention from opposing teams, despite his slow start to the year, but unless the Mavericks are receiving a valuable backup center in place of the sixth-year vet, the Mavericks can't afford to trade the center.

Developing Flagg and Nembhard would be at the top priority list of any franchise in the Mavericks' seat, and if it means holding on to Gafford and possibly trading him in the summer to give both rookies a paint presence, the Mavericks should listen.

With a now questionable trade deadline outlook for the Mavericks, plenty of decisions will be put under a microscope, and unless there is a perfect package in return for Gafford, Dallas needs to avoid all outcomes where Powell and Cisse are the team's lone big men.