Mavericks grant Daniel Gafford his biggest offseason wish

Back in June when the Dallas Mavericks officially inked Daniel Gafford to a new three-year, $60 million extension with the organization, they did him a favor in more ways than one.

Giving Gafford the kind of payday he deserved based on his performance since arriving in Dallas was obviously the proper thing to do. Number 21 has been a steady force on the interior for the Mavs, and he'll continue to be that.

When it comes to the value on this new contract, Gafford certainly got a hefty check, but the $60 million figure was actually below a lot of projections for what he could have been worth this offseason. Of course he wanted to earn as much as possible, but getting this more team-friendly deal will serve him well in the long-term.

I say that because of the current nature of the Mavericks' roster. In case you hadn't noticed, Dallas is pretty stacked at the center position. Gafford, Dereck Lively, Anthony Davis, and even P.J. Washington could all log minutes at the five this coming season.

Gafford's contract makes him a much more tradeable asset

There's no telling what direction the front office will want to go as it pertains to this team's centers beyond next season. What the 2025-26 year will serve to do, given that Dallas is back contending once again, is allow for the coaching staff to feel things out and gauge who they see as being viable long-term options based on their vision for this squad.

Frankly, that vision may or may not ultimately include Gafford. If things play out with Lively being the better option as the starting five with AD playing the four, the Mavericks might determine they want to analyze the trade market and see what Gafford could get them.

Should they end up going this route, the options of trading Gafford are going to be more open and plentiful now that he's playing on a multi-year deal that carries solid value. There will be a playoff or fringe playoff team out there that sees him as a game-changing option for them and will give Dallas a good offer.

And it's important to note that Gafford will head into the season in a few short weeks trade eligible as well. Getting this contract extension hashed out this summer was a great move for the Mavs' future flexibility, and it ensures that whether he stays long-term or eventually becomes part of a bigger deal, his value will remain strong. Dallas has given itself options, and that's exactly what a contending team should be striving for.