Mavericks must act now and secure this tempting Daniel Gafford blockbuster trade

Since winning the Cooper Flagg sweepstakes on May 12, the Dallas Mavericks' focus has shifted to how they stay competitive now while also gearing up for the future with Flagg at the helm. While there's still just under two weeks before the Mavs can select Flagg with the first overall pick, the team is already planning for how they might look next season.

With Jason Kidd's future being uncertain in Dallas, the Mavericks will have a lot to juggle between roster moves and keeping Kidd happy before Flagg can even step foot on the hardwood. Still, the Mavericks' future is already brighter than it was before May 12.

While Nico Harrison will have a lot on his plate this offseason, it may be best if he can already explore trades to give the Mavericks a brighter future while also staying competitive. It may not be something that fans want to hear, but it may be in Dallas' best interests to trade away fan-favorite center Daniel Gafford for a shot at getting another pick in this year's draft.

Mavericks should target the Hawks in a Daniel Gafford trade

It's unclear what the Mavericks will want to do in this year's draft after selecting Flagg with the No. 1 overall pick, but it may be a safe bet to assume Harrison and the team's front office will look to trade back into the draft for a possible late first-round selection. Unfortunately for fans, this will likely require trading Gafford in a package deal for a chance at acquiring a young guard in the draft.

One team that seems to be on board with needing a center of Gafford's caliber appears to be the Atlanta Hawks, as all signs point to their partnership with center Clint Capela ending this summer. Gafford wouldn't just give the Hawks a rim-rolling big at a younger age to pair alongside Trae Young, but they just so happen to have a late first-round draft selection they could offer the Mavs.

Another enticing aspect about a potential deal with the Hawks is that it is unlikely the Mavericks will need to take much salary back in a possible trade for the 22nd overall pick. With the Mavericks not taking back any salary, it would make Harrison's summer much simpler, as Flagg is set to get a larger rookie deal than fans realize, at around $15 million annually.

Flagg's contract on this current roster wouldn't just put Dallas past the second apron, but it would hamper the team's flexibility in year one of the Flagg era. Assuming the Mavericks and Hawks do engage in trade talks, it could be assumed the two franchises may talk about swapping Gafford for the 22nd pick straight up, or Atlanta could throw in a smaller contract to give to the Mavs.

This deal also makes perfect sense, considering the Hawks already possess an even better first-round selection with the 13th overall pick. It's highly unlikely Atlanta will want to be loading up on young players over the opportunity of trading for Gafford, which makes this deal even more enticing for Mavericks fans.

If the Mavericks did make this deal, it may hinder Jason Kidd's two-big lineup for the future, but it would allow Dallas to draft a younger guard. Walter Clayton Jr. has been a name on the Maverick fans' draft board since he helped lead the Florida Gators to the National Championship, and he would be a perfect fit in Dallas.

While it's unclear how Harrison plans on using Gafford this offseason, exploring a trade to get back into the draft wouldn't be a bad way to keep fans happy. Many basketball fans have been quick to relate Clayton Jr.'s game to New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, and the similarities are easy to see with their age coming out of college and their play style.