Rumors: Mavericks shockingly 'dangle' key piece in trade talks ahead of deadline

The Dallas Mavericks are going through their roughest stretch of the season right now, and they seemingly can't catch a break as the injuries keep rolling in.

Ever since Luka Doncic went down with a calf strain on Christmas Day, things haven't been the same. Dallas has quietly slid down the Western Conference standings, as they are now 23-19 and the No. 7 seed, and they are going to have to find a way to win without Doncic until he returns at some point in February.

Dallas can't expect to go on a wild end-of-season run as they did last year, and collecting some wins now will be crucial as every game matters. Last night's game mattered as much as any game, considering they played one of their biggest rivals, the Oklahoma City Thunder, and the 106-98 win helped Dallas snap out of a brutal three-game losing streak and get back on track.

Wednesday night's loss to the New Orleans Pelicans was heartbreaking for the Mavericks, as the game ended with a missed goaltending no-call that ultimately decided the outcome, but the loss did come with a silver lining for Daniel Gafford.

Mavericks are 'dangling' Daniel Gafford in trade talks

In Dallas' first game without Dereck Lively II (following his right ankle sprain on Tuesday), Gafford finished with 27 points, 12 rebounds, and two blocks while shooting 12-13 from the field. Gafford dominated the paint in this game, and he stepped up when Dallas needed him most. He showed that he could fill in Lively II's shoes (offensively), especially against struggling teams, and Friday night's game against the Thunder was a huge test for him. Dallas didn't look Gafford's way a ton, but he ended up finishing with eight points and six rebounds along with a steal and two blocks.

Gafford's value to the Mavericks was immeasurable last season, as he became the team's starting center following the midseason trade and ultimately helped propel the team to the NBA Finals, but it looks like Dallas is considering moving on from him ahead of the February 6 trade deadline.

According to The Athletic's Christian Clark, Dallas has "dangled" Gafford in trade talks (subscription required) as they search to add a high-level perimeter defender. This comes after the Mavericks were reportedly not interested in moving him last month, and trading Gafford could change everything for Dallas.

If they were to move him, the Mavs would no longer have a reliable second-string center (unless they traded for one), and Gafford's time in Dallas would be over after just one year. His time with the Mavericks has been filled with ups and downs, including him nearly breaking Wilt Chamberlain's record for consecutive makes without a miss last season, and his energy and rim protection have made him a Mavericks fan favorite.

While one of his biggest strengths, his ability to catch lobs, has been minimized this season due to how much time Doncic has missed and defenses honing in on shutting this down, the eye test and the numbers will tell you that his weaknesses have been somewhat overwhelming.

When looking at Gafford's net rating for the season, he is posting a -1.3 compared to the 6.8 that he posted during the regular season last season, and it's undeniable that he has taken a small step back. His struggles to defend in space are concerning, especially considering how the game is played during the playoffs, and this could be one of the main reasons that Dallas is considering moving on.

Gafford's struggles were as obvious as ever in the playoffs, as Dereck Lively II posted the highest net rating of any rotation player with a 9.1 while Gafford posted a -5.4. This was the time that fans truly started to notice that Lively II had the edge over Gafford, and despite Gafford having some big games and outstanding moments, it came with some low moments as well.

His efficiency and power when scoring around the rim have helped shift the attention away from his defensive struggles, and time will tell if Dallas prioritizes keeping their trusted backup center who helped them make a Finals push, or if they elect to go grab one more defensive-minded wing to bolster their rotation.