Mavericks must brace for all-out trade war over fan-favorite big man

As soon as the Dallas Mavericks signed Daniel Gafford to a three-year, $54 million contract extension earlier this offseason, it was clear that an all-out trade war would eventually ensue for the fan-favorite center. His new contract narrowly avoided a six-month trade restriction, and with that being said, teams from around the NBA could be all over him by the time the trade deadline rolls around in 2026.

Having a high-level big man is essential to win in today's NBA, and with Dereck Lively II poised to start at center once again, teams could pursue Gafford to fortify their frontcourt and allow him to potentially become their starting big man.

The Mavericks were reluctant to include Gafford in trade talks this summer, despite the frontcourt logjam that was created when the team drafted Cooper Flagg, but things could change over the next few months depending on how Dallas starts the season.

Daniel Gafford will be one of the most attractive trade pieces in the NBA

The Mavericks are heavily banking on the two-big strategy working, as three of their top players play center (Anthony Davis, Dereck Lively II, and Gafford), and if their guard play lags behind, they could be forced to move Gafford. All eyes will be on D'Angelo Russell and Brandon Williams, among others, since Kyrie Irving will be out to start the season with a torn ACL, and the Mavs' bigs will have to carry their weight to keep Dallas above water.

Trading Gafford would make more sense than moving Lively II or Davis, as the Mavericks just traded Luka Doncic to bring in Davis, and Lively II seems like he will be the center of the future, and we could see these types of talks heat up ahead of the February 6 trade deadline. Dallas clearly needs more guard depth, and Gafford is definitely going to have great value around the league since he will have three more years under contract after next season.

Gafford's finishing around the bucket, shot-blocking ability, and tenacity will make him an attractive trade target for rival teams, and one injury from an opposing team around the league could turn Gafford into someone that they can't live without. The Mavericks have the luxury of having multiple starting-caliber centers on their roster, meaning an injury to one of them wouldn't be catastrophic, but the same can't be said for other teams' frontcourt situations.

If a team's starting big goes down, and they need a new one quickly, Gafford would be the perfect option. He has already shown an ability to adapt on the fly when being traded to a new team, as he became Dallas' starting big after trading for him in 2024, and teams could envision him having a similar impact if they wanted to acquire him during the 2025-26 season.

If Dallas wanted to, they could trade him right now, but it seems like they will go into next season with the roster they have. Nico Harrison has invested serious resources into the roster they have, and it seems like they have to at least try to see how things play out before making such a franchise-altering trade. Gafford has been a key part of the Mavs' identity ever since they traded for him at the 2024 trade deadline, and his presence ultimately helped Dallas reach the 2024 NBA Finals.

Without Gafford, who knows if the Mavs would've made their third NBA Finals appearance in franchise history in 2024, and trading him right after signing him to one of the most team-friendly contracts on the roster would be a major risk.

Dallas would have to love the return that they're getting, and whether they want to move him or not, teams are going to be calling Nico Harrison about Daniel Gafford before the February 6 trade deadline. Gafford took major strides in his game over the course of the 2024-25 season, and it wouldn't be a surprise if he is a hot topic within NBA trade circles if he improves even more next season.