Mavericks' longtime rumored trade is suddenly becoming a real possibility again

Over the last two years, Daniel Gafford has been in more trade rumors than any Dallas Maverick, but Dallas has never decided to pull the trigger on any deal to send him elsewhere. Now, heading into one of the most pivotal offseasons in recent memory, he is showing the rest of the league why someone should trade for him.

Gafford was in trade rumors ahead of the trade deadline last season, and at points this season, it looked like he was the most trade-bound player on the team. It was a bit shocking to see Gafford on the roster beyond the February 5 trade deadline, but he wasn't playing like the player Mavericks fans were used to watching for the first half of this season.

Some ankle injuries and decreased production led to his value dropping, and the Mavericks decided to hold onto him. His value truly dipped at the worst possible time, and he looked like a completely different player from the one who helped lead Dallas to the 2024 NBA Finals as the starting center.

Daniel Gafford suddenly looks unstoppable

Now, less than a month and a half past the trade deadline, Gafford is on a tear for the Mavericks. Dallas isn't winning games, but Gafford's impact on both ends of the floor can't go overlooked.

He's averaging 20.3 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks per game while shooting 82.9 percent from the field over the last four games, showing the entire NBA how dominant he can be when he's at his best.

It wasn't too long ago that he and Dereck Lively II formed a two-headed monster of a center rotation, and while this duo has the potential to anchor the Mavs' defense for years to come, it may be in their best interest to move on from Gafford.

Why the Mavericks may have to move on from Gafford

This is not Gafford's fault by any means, as he is beloved by fans and teammates, but the Mavericks' roster isn't currently constructed to compete for titles with Cooper Flagg as the new franchise cornerstone. Most of the key components of this roster were built to win around Luka Doncic, and the Mavericks may need to shuffle the deck if they want to become contenders.

Dallas' roster isn't built to win with Flagg just yet, and their imbalances could force them to make some big-time moves this summer. They don't have the guard play, shooting, or playmaking to hang with the best teams in the West, but what they do have is frontcourt depth.

Not many teams have two starting-caliber centers like the Mavs do, and with Gafford's three-year extension kicking in next season, teams are going to be calling Dallas about him. He has already proven that his energy, rim protection, and ability to catch lobs can alter games significantly for his team, and his recent play has helped his value rise once again.

No one expected Gafford's resurgence to be this radical, especially with how often he was re-tweaking the ankle sprain that he suffered during training camp, but it's working out for the Mavericks. He is playing his best basketball of the season right before Dallas has to make some serious decisions about their future, and Gafford scoring 20 points for two games in a row for the first time all season couldn't have come at a better time.