The Los Angeles Lakers received a less-than-ideal trade update on two-way New Orleans Pelicans wing Herb Jones last Friday.
Simply put, Jones is off the market this trade season, forcing the Lakers to pivot to other targets before the Feb. 5 deadline. ClutchPoints’ Enzo Flojo pinpointed a 6-foot-10 Dallas Mavericks center as a realistic option for the Lakers.
Specifically, Flojo believes Los Angeles could land the serviceable big man by parting ways with their 6-foot-2 second-unit point guard.
“Here's a familiar rumor, but a very different solution,” Flojo wrote Saturday. "Any time the Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks are mentioned in the same trade breath, one name inevitably surfaces: Anthony Davis.”
“This time, though, the smoke points elsewhere. As the Lakers position themselves for a possible postseason push, the front office appears focused on pragmatic upgrades rather than headline nostalgia.”
“The result is a trade proposal that brings a Mavericks center to Los Angeles, just not the one fans might instinctively expect (Daniel Gafford and Dante Exum to the Lakers for Gabe Vincent, Dalton Knecht, and a 2031 first-round pick).”
Reuniting Luka Doncic with Gafford would be a genius idea. It’s no secret that Doncic thrives in pick-and-roll situations, and with Doncic and Gafford already establishing chemistry in the two-man game, there’s no reason to believe the duo can’t create magic alongside each other again.
Gafford is averaging 7.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game with the Mavericks this season, shooting 62.3% from the field in 28 outings. Acquiring Gafford from the Mavericks would also allow the Lakers to finally move on from Vincent after a lousy stint with the franchise.
In other words, Flojo’s trade idea is, without a doubt, a win-win scenario for the Lakers.
More NBA: Celtics predicted to trade for $175 million ex-Lakers star, NBA champion to help Jaylen Brown