Rumors: Mavericks interested in trade for Wizards' elite defensive center

Noah Weber

Detroit Pistons v Washington Wizards / Patrick Smith/GettyImages

The Dallas Mavericks' need for another center is almost as strong as their need for another wing, and have been in rumors for two different centers from around the league.

They have shown interest in Isaiah Stewart of the Detroit Pistons, and their most recent trade interest comes in a different center from the Eastern Conference.

Matt Moore of Action Network reported that the Mavs have shown interest in Washington Wizards center Daniel Gafford.

Rumors: Mavericks interested in trade for Wizards' elite defensive center

This season for the Wizards, Gafford is averaging 10.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.9 steals, and 2.1 blocks per game. His 2.1 blocks per game rank eighth in the NBA, and adding him to his Mavs roster would give Dallas two elite shot-blockers as they already have Dereck Lively II.

Gafford is sold in the pick and roll, and his ability to create second-chance opportunities for his teammates is great. He averages 2.6 offensive rebounds per game and is good at put-backs and tip-ins. He has a good feel for knowing how the ball will come off the rim, and his touch in the paint is underrated.

Defensively, Gafford is a monster in the paint. It's extremely hard to drive or score around the rim if he is in the paint, and it would give Dallas two top 20 shot-blockers. Dallas hasn't had two elite big men in years, and Gafford is a considerably big upgrade over Dwight Powell.

It's unclear how much the Mavs would have to cough up if they want to trade for Gafford, but he would be a massive pickup for this team. This report, combined with the report about Stewart, shows that Dallas isn't completely content with the center position either, and the Mavs could look very different once the trade deadline passes.

For all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks and their rumored pursuit of Daniel Gafford, stay tuned.

Noah Weber

Noah Weber is the Site Expert for The Smoking Cuban, covering the Dallas Mavericks as a credentialed media member since the 2022-23 season. With a Bachelor of Science in Sports Media from Oklahoma State University, Noah has worked in sports journalism since 2019. While he's covered the Dallas Cowboys and Oklahoma State Cowboys, he has now established himself as a go-to voice for Mavericks coverage. Noah's expertise includes in-depth game analysis, social media content creation, and offering unique perspectives through his reporting. His work has been featured on major platforms such as ESPN, Bleacher Report, and Overtime. During his time at Oklahoma State, Noah won first place in the Oklahoma Broadcast Education Association Awards for a show he co-produced. Outside of covering the Mavs, Noah enjoys working out, playing basketball and Spikeball, and spending quality time with friends and family.