Lakers' key departure shuts down Mavericks' path to ideal Jazz trade

The Los Angeles Lakers made a move for Walker Kessler today to shore up their center rotation and give Luka Doncic an elite center running mate. In a subsequent move, the Lakers lost Jaxson Hayes, as he signed with the Utah Jazz on a two-year deal, according to ESPN's Tim MacMahon. Hayes was a teammate Luka Doncic was fond of, and the Lakers losing him is actually a significant loss.

He averaged 7.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks per game off the bench for Los Angeles last season, and JJ Redick leaned upon him in the playoffs as well. His motor, energy, and athleticism made him a key piece of their rotation over the last three years, and Doncic will certainly miss his former pick-and-roll partner.

Hayes to the Jazz means Utah doesn't need Gafford anymore

While Hayes signing with the Jazz may not seem important for a team like the Dallas Mavericks, given that they already have plenty of center depth, it actually has some negative consequences for them — and it starts with Daniel Gafford. It virtually removes the possibility that the Jazz will aggressively pursue him in a trade.

The Mavericks have been shopping Gafford for some time now, but a trade never came to fruition. He has been in trade rumors multiple times, stretching over multiple years in Dallas since being acquired in 2024, and it makes the most sense for the Mavs to move on at this point.

This got even more true after the team traded for Santi Aldama on Wednesday.

Dallas just drafted Morez Johnson Jr. with a lottery pick, further complicating Gafford's long-term fit, and Gafford will turn 28 before the start of next season. He was a great piece alongside Doncic in Dallas, especially in the pick-and-roll, but he isn't on the same timeline as Cooper Flagg. The former Arkansas Razorback has also struggled to stay healthy over the last two seasons, and this offseason seemed like the perfect time to trade him to get younger and land future draft capital.

After seeing Utah trade Kessler, they were an ideal fit for the 6-foot-10 big man to fill the void left by their former franchise center. They needed a new big to hold down the paint, and given their massive stash of draft assets following the Kessler sign-and-trade, the Jazz were a team that Dallas should've been calling in an effort to offload Gafford.

They needed a new starter as they try to build something special with Darryn Peterson, Ace Bailey, Keyonte George, and Jaren Jackson Jr., but they opted to sign Hayes instead. They'll now roll with an inside duo of Jusuf Nurkic and Hayes, and they don't need Gafford anymore.

Why Utah made sense as a Gafford landing spot

Gafford would've been a significant upgrade over either of those players, and one of the Mavs' most logical trade destinations for him was just ripped off the table. Utah has several young players Dallas could've targeted, such as Isaiah Collier and Brice Sensabaugh, and they have plenty of picks to give up as well.

The Mavericks just need to cut ties with the starting big man from their NBA Finals run in 2024, and the Jazz made too much sense to ignore. This was the potential move they needed as they make moves around the edges, and Dallas will have to look elsewhere to find a Gafford trade.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow