The Los Angeles Lakers are making moves, and all eyes are on Daniel Gafford. With the NBA trade deadline approaching on February 5, 2026, Los Angeles is reportedly eyeing the Dallas Mavericks center to team up with Luka Doncic. After a shaky start to the season, the Lakers are looking for a reliable big man who can finish lobs and add the vertical threat Doncic needs to take his playmaking to the next level.
Los Angeles Lakers could rely on Daniel Gafford to add vertical threats
The Los Angeles Lakers kicked off the 2025-26 season with huge expectations, thanks to Doncic's three-year, $165 million deal signed in July 2025. However, after 11 games, they found themselves 22nd in offensive rating (109.2) and 18th in defensive rating (112.1), struggling with limited vertical spacing and rim-running options.
Luka Doncic has been amazing, averaging 28.5 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 7.9 assists each game, but his playmaking really stands out when he’s paired with athletic bigs who can finish lobs. Right now, center Jaxson Hayes has been getting some playing time, but he’s missing that finishing touch, making only 58% of his dunks this season, while Gafford has a career rate of 72%.
The 27-year-old, 6-foot-10 center signed a three-year, $54 million contract extension with Dallas on July 12, 2025, but he is entering the final year of his prior deal at $14.4 million in 2025-26, with the new extension beginning in 2026-27 and keeping him under contract through 2028-29.
During the 2024-25 season, Gafford averaged 12.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks in 21.5 minutes per game, shooting 70.2% from the field. He formed a deadly pick-and-roll partnership with Doncic, which produced 1.15 points per possession when Gafford screened for him. Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka has been keeping a close eye on Gafford as a potential trade target.
LEBRONWIRE mentioned that the Lakers' front office showed "strong interest" during a recent scrimmage between the Mavericks and Lakers at UCLA. This fits with the team's trend of bringing back Doncic's former teammates. Last summer, they picked up Tim Hardaway Jr., who used to play alongside Kyrie Irving, in a small trade.
Lakers chasing Daniel Gafford is about more than just a trade, it’s a clear signal of how they want to build around Luka Doncic. It just pushes the narrative even more about how LeBron James is not in their future.
Daniel Gafford fits the Los Angeles Lakers perfectly because he plays above the rim with timing and precision, not raw athleticism alone. He sets physical screens that survive switches, then rolls hard to the basket with soft hands and body control.
This gives Luka a reliable target in crowded situations. Unlike slower bigs, Gafford forces defenses to react early and finishes through contact, turning double-teams into easy points. His energy boosts the entire offense.
He crashes boards, runs the floor in transition, and converts Luka’s passes into quick momentum. Best of all, he impacts the game without needing the ball. He just needs space, timing, and trust, making him the ideal complement to a star who controls the offense like Luka.