Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford has admitted that he wants starting center money on the open market when he hits free agency at the end of the 2026 season.
Gafford is a very good player, and a team should be willing to give him what he's looking for. However, as some have suggested, the Mavericks could look to trade him before they even have to deal with that. One team that continues to have rumored interest is the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Lakers need a starting center, and with his familiarity with Luka Doncic, pairing them together again makes plenty of sense.
However, according to a report from Jovan Buha of The Athletic, he believes the Lakers will likely have to overpay in a deal for Gafford.
His potential package would include Gabe Vincent and Dalton Knecht, adding that the Lakers would also have to move a first-round pick in this deal.
"They probably have to overpay," Buha said. "It would probably have to be something like … Gabe [Vincent], Dalton [Knecht] and a first (round pick) for Gafford. And that's a lot."
Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
If the Mavericks don't plan to pay Gafford when the time comes, trading him for this type of package makes plenty of sense.
The Mavericks could view those other two assets as potential trade chips, and having a first-round pick to move is never a bad thing.
They're clearly in a position to win a championship when healthy, so if Gafford isn't someone they're viewing as a short or long-term option, trading him would be the better plan.