Mavericks' Daniel Gafford trade rumors get much riskier after Santi Aldama update

Daniel Gafford has been in trade rumors for multiple years since joining the Dallas Mavericks at the trade deadline in 2024. The team has shopped the 27-year-old big man at multiple trade deadlines, including last season, and the rumors have only picked up this summer before the first season of the Dusty May era.

Aldama's injury recovery makes a Gafford trade riskier

Mavs fans aren't completely against a Gafford trade due to the depth Dallas already has inside, but a recent Santi Aldama injury update makes the idea of trading Gafford much riskier. While Aldama is expected to be ready for training camp next month after undergoing knee surgery earlier this year, there's always a chance that his recovery could take longer than expected.

Setbacks are unfortunately not uncommon as players work back from injuries that required surgery, and the Mavs would be betting on Aldama's recovery going smoothly if they move Gafford now.

An update from yesterday broke that Aldama won't play for Spain in the FIBA World Cup qualifiers this summer as he recovers from this surgery, and if he doesn't get fully healthy within the next month before training camp begins, there could be a possibility that he isn't ready for the start of the regular season. This would be a major disappointment, as Mavs fans can't wait to see Aldama play, and it makes things much more complicated when it comes to Gafford's future on the team.

Dallas may need to keep Gafford

While it seems like a Gafford trade is likely at this point, it's far from guaranteed. Mavericks wing Naji Marshall publicly backed Gafford amid this summer's trade rumors, and if he returns, Dallas' center rotation is going to be monstrous.

Dusty May will have Dereck Lively II, Gafford, Morez Johnson Jr., Moussa Cisse, and Aldama to play center, but things get much shakier without Gafford in the mix. This will be especially true if Aldama's knee injury takes longer to rehab than expected.

Aldama isn't the only Mavericks center not fully healthy right now

If the Mavs trade Gafford and Aldama isn't healthy by the time the regular season rolls around, May would have a center rotation of Lively II, Cisse, and Johnson Jr. Additionally, Lively II may not even be healthy for the start of the regular season. Cisse and Johnson Jr. alone wouldn't give May enough depth inside, and the injury recoveries of Aldama and Lively II are going to be crucial moving forward.

Dallas needs depth at center if they want to avoid a slow start, and this could mean that they shouldn't trade Gafford yet. Aldama being healthy would make things easier, but even then, there are multiple variables at play that could significantly affect the team's frontcourt to start the 2026-27 season.

Trading or keeping Gafford isn't a no-brainer decision by any means, and Aldama's recovery could directly play a role in what the Mavericks decide to do. Recent reporting indicates that Aldama will be ready to roll this time next month, and the Mavericks better be confident about this if they're completely ready to send Gafford packing.

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