The Los Angeles Lakers have been tied in NBA rumors this offseason to several centers on the trade market, with the club potentially adding multiple big men this summer. However, acquiring two centers might prove especially difficult considering the asking price for one of their targets.
On a recent episode of Buha’s Block, Jovan Buha of The Athletic reported that the Dallas Mavericks might require Los Angeles to send a promising talent with upside along with a future first-round pick in any deal for center Daniel Gafford.
“My read is they’d probably have to overpay. It would probably have to be something like Gabe [Vincent], Dalton [Knecht] and a first for Daniel Gafford and that’s a lot.”
The Athletic’s Jovan Buha on the cost of a Daniel Gafford trade for the Los Angeles Lakers
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- Daniel Gafford stats: 12.3 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 1.4 APG, 1.8 BPG, 70.2% FG, .238 Win Shares per 48 Minutes in 57 games
Gafford, who turns 27 years old in October, is coming off a very productive 86-game stint in Dallas. The 6-foot-10 center averaged 11.9 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game while averaging a .241 Win Shares per 48 Minutes. However, he only plays around 22 minutes per game and started just 31 of the 57 games he played in last season.
Another reason that price might prove too expensive for Los Angeles is Gafford’s contract. He would only be a one-year rental, meaning the Lakers’ front office would either need to replace him next offseason or sign him to an extension that’s far less team-friendly.
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- Daniel Gafford contract (Spotrac): $14.386 million cap hit (2025-’26)
Unfortunately for president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka, it’s been made clear this offseason that NBA teams want to try and take advantage of the Lakers’ desperation. Even Dallas sees an opportunity to try and exploit Los Angeles, especially if the two teams are trade partners again after the Luka Doncic deal.
However, with the Indiana Pacers expected to re-sign Myles Turner to a lucrative contract and the Detroit Pistons eyeing Naz Reiz, the trade market is the only viable avenue right now for the Lakers to find a quality center to pair with Doncic and LeBron James.
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