Unexpected rumor hands Mavericks a golden chance to land the asset Cooper Flagg needs

It's a known secret that one of the Dallas Mavericks' goals this trade deadline is to acquire pieces that will better align with the timeline of Cooper Flagg. While that likely means some fan-favorite players could be traded, the Mavericks have a possible golden opportunity to send the Oklahoma City Thunder a player they need, with the Mavs walking away with an asset they desperately need: their own future first-round pick rights in 2028.

Building around a young star like Flagg can be tricky without adequate resources to create a good team around him, which is why the Mavericks need to trade Daniel Gafford to the Thunder after it was revealed that Oklahoma City might be interested in acquiring a big man at the trade deadline.

Gafford has not only succeeded as one of the league's best backup centers in Dallas since joining their roster, but the Mavericks could have the perfect opportunity to ask for their 2028 first-round pick swap rights as a bargaining chip.

Thunder hold the asset Dallas needs to build around Cooper Flagg

In a recent episode of 'The Hoop Collective Podcast, ' NBA insider and host of the podcast Brain Windhorst revealed that the Thunder could actively be shopping for centers with injury problems persisting amongst their own roster. "Why would the Oklahoma City Thunder name be out there," Windhorst said. "And why would the Oklahoma City Thunder name be out there potentially looking at centers?"

While this report in itself is surprising considering how good the Thunder have been this season, it clearly gives the Mavericks a chance to exploit one of Oklahoma's biggest needs and get what they want in return. The Mavericks sent the rights for their 2028 first-round pick to the Thunder as the third team in a trade to complete the Gafford acquisition from the Washington Wizards during the 2024 trade deadline.

It would no doubt be ironic that the Mavs would be theoretically sending Gafford to the team that allowed them to fully acquire him just a few short seasons ago, but Gafford is better suited with a guard who can distribute with the skillsets of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Despite Gafford's struggles this season, this would instantly be a trade that would work out for both parties, especially Gafford.

On one end, the Mavericks are getting the rights to their own draft pick back, which would instantly bolster the future of Flagg and the possibility of pairing him with a younger star in the near future, and on the other end, the Thunder receives one of the best backup centers in the league over the past three seasons.

If the Thunder truly are shopping for a reliable center, Gafford would probably be at the top of their list of gettable players, considering Dallas's need for future assets. Gafford could instantly be relied on for his defensive intensity and his ability to roll to the rim, which is an aspect the Thunder don't have in their current lineup.

For the Mavericks, a trade like this would allow them not rush into anything when it comes to Flagg's future, and it would give them valuable time to develop players alongside the 19-year-old.