Mavericks have an ideal trade solution to the Lakers' frontcourt hole

The Los Angeles Lakers need help inside. While they pulled off a blockbuster sign-and-trade for Walker Kessler, he won't provide enough center depth by himself for the Lakers to be contenders.

Luka Doncic is at his best when he has multiple high-level centers to play alongside, as shown by his success playing with Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II for the Dallas Mavericks, and Kessler and Kevon Looney won't be enough to make the Lakers competitive in a loaded Western Conference.

Why the Lakers should consider trading for Daniel Gafford

This is exactly why the Mavericks are ideal trade partners for Los Angeles. Dallas has plenty of good big men. They have Lively II, Gafford, Moussa Cisse, Morez Johnson Jr., and Santi Aldama on the roster. This surplus of center depth will help them hang with bigger teams in the Western Conference, but it will also allow them to explore trades if they want to better balance the roster.

They still need more guard depth, and with one too many centers on the roster, it may be in their best interest to move on from one of them. Gafford has been in trade rumors for multiple years in a row, and the Lakers have been among the teams that have shown interest in him since Dallas traded for him in 2024.

This is even more of a reason for the Mavs and Lakers to explore a trade, and Gafford may be the perfect trade target for Los Angeles. Dallas likely wouldn't be hesitant to give him up, especially if a favorable trade package is on the table, and a team like the Lakers make too much sense to ignore.

Luka Doncic and Gafford were the perfect fit in Dallas

Los Angeles is notably trying to bring in players who mirror the players Doncic was surrounded with in Dallas. They've already added Quentin Grimes and Jaden Hardy this summer, two former Mavs that Doncic played with, and Gafford could easily become the next one.

Gafford was Doncic's teammate in Dallas for about a year, but their success together is well-documented. Gafford was the Mavs' starting center during their run to the NBA Finals in 2024, and Doncic's lob passing and on-ball gravity made him a dream fit with Gafford. He fed him great looks inside constantly, and Gafford was playing some of the best basketball of his career while he was playing with Doncic.

If the Lakers added Gafford, they would have an excellent center duo of Kessler and Gafford. Kessler would obviously start, as they paid a hefty price to bring him in, but Gafford would be a great backup option. Gafford has proven that he can be effective as both a starter and off the bench, as he sometimes started in Dallas, but he was also willing to back up Lively II as well.

He thrived in both roles, and Los Angeles would be an ideal next spot for him. There is plenty of tape to prove that Gafford is the exact type of big man that Doncic plays best with, and the two teams could explore a trade over the next month and a half before the season begins.

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