According to Lake Show Life’s Tyler Watts, the Los Angeles Lakers shouldn’t be satisfied with their current frontcourt unit.
Watts believes the franchise shouldn't be opposed to trading a veteran guard to the Dallas Mavericks for a 6-foot-10 center.
“The Los Angeles Lakers still have a center problem and could turn to Luka Doncic’s former teammate, Daniel Gafford, to solve it,” Watts wrote Monday.
“The 6-foot-10 big man was the Mavericks' starting center during their 2024 run to the NBA Finals, but he is comfortable coming off the bench. Acquiring him would ensure the Lakers have a lob threat and rim protector on the floor for all 48 minutes.”
“The Mavericks walk away with the Lakers' 2031 first-rounder and a first-round swap in 2026. Gabe Vincent can be a stopgap playmaker as Dallas tries to get Kyrie Irving healthy.”
Watts’ full trade proposal sends Gafford and Haywood Highsmith to the Lakers, Dalton Knecht, Jaxson Hayes, and a 2030 second-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets, and Vincent, a 2031 first-round pick, and a 2026 first-round pick swap to the Mavericks.
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Gafford has played the best basketball of his career with the Mavericks. The Arkansas product was acquired by Dallas midway through the 2023-24 season and quickly earned a reputation for being a near-automatic finisher in the paint and elite rim protector.
Gafford averaged 11.1 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game in 29 contests, helping the Mavericks reach the final round of the 2024 postseason.
While Gafford had no choice but to finish this past season without his trustworthy pick-and-roll partner (Doncic, whom Dallas traded to the Lakers on Feb. 2), he notched a career-high 12.3 points per game on 70.2% field goal shooting while snagging 6.8 rebounds and blocking 1.8 shots.
Vincent, on the other hand, is an experienced guard whom the Lakers thought highly of during the 2023 offseason.
However, his subpar play, combined with the Lakers’ commitment to doing whatever it takes to keep Doncic happy, could result in an advantageous trade.
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