Mavericks' once-perfect trade plan is nosediving faster than expected

When the Dallas Mavericks signed Daniel Gafford to a three-year, $54 million extension this offseason, it was right under the number that would've negated him from being immediately trade-eligible this season. However, despite anticipation and rumors brewing for a potential Gafford trade this season, it's getting harder by the day for Dallas to pull off a Gafford trade, considering the injuries Gafford and Dallas' other bigs have dealt with this season.

Gafford has played in Dallas' last three games, but head coach Jason Kidd has been using him sparingly recently. He hasn't played over 17 minutes in a game since Dallas' November 24 bout versus the Miami Heat. Gafford has been battling a right ankle sprain since the start of training camp, and simply hasn't looked nearly as explosive on both ends since returning to the lineup from this.

To make matters worse, Gafford has re-aggravated his ankle multiple times this season, and still doesn't look 100 percent up to this point. Kidd has likely had Gafford on a minutes restriction recently, but with the state of Gafford's ankle being in constant flux, Mavericks fans have no idea when they'll see Gafford back at full form this season.

Trading Daniel Gafford will be harder than expected for Dallas

With Dereck Lively II undergoing season-ending surgery and Anthony Davis notoriously being injury-prone, Dallas is already hard-pressed to move on from Gafford ahead of the February 5 trade deadline, but it's even harder now that Gafford has been in and out of the lineup and hasn't played up to the level he's accustomed to.

Being on a $14.3 million salary this season before his extension kicks in next season, Gafford is easily one of Dallas' most tradable assets if he were staying on the court this season. Unfortunately, other teams could look the other way if Dallas calls them about Gafford ahead of the deadline unless he can get healthy and put together some better games.

There are still some signs of hope, as Gafford has totaled seven blocks in the last two games, as he's still proven to be a solid rim protector when on the court this season for the most part. His lack of explosiveness has been very evident from an offensive and rebounding perspective, though, as he's not getting the lift he needs in post-up and face-up scenarios compared to what fans have seen from him in the past.

Gafford is only averaging 8.2 points per game this season and is shooting his worst field goal percentage from the field of his career up to this point at 61.4 percent. While some people may attribute this to not playing with a dynamic pick-and-roll partner like Luka Doncic anymore, Gafford still looked far better offensively toward the end of last season after the Doncic trade, so he's certainly capable of more on that end if he can get his health back on track.

This situation isn't untenable for the Mavericks at all, and Gafford is still on a very fair deal once his extension kicks in, but trading him this season is starting to seem more unlikely with each passing game until he can put together a sustained stretch of solid play on both ends.