The New Orleans Pelicans have been in the market for a starting center for what feels like the entirety of the Zion Williamson era. After a combined 47 wins over the last two seasons, the door may be opening for the Pelicans to land their perfect center in Dallas Mavericks big man Daniel Gafford. DG has been in constant trade rumors over the last two years, and NBA insider Marc Stein recently reported they are listening to offers for the 27-year-old.Â
When you look at the Mavericks roster, they recently acquired Zaccharie Risacher from the Atlanta Hawks as part of a three-team deal that saw them part with guard Ryan Nembhard. This leaves Dallas with a guard depth chart of Kyrie Irving, who is returning from an ACL tear, Sergio De Larrea, and Marcus Sasser. Outside of Irving, the Mavs don’t really have a guard with a proven track record that can come off their bench and provide a spark, making Jordan Poole a potential good fit.
With Cooper Flagg now at the helm of the Mavs' future, opening up as much cap flexibility long-term will likely be a goal of Masai Ujiri’s, and Poole fits that.
A Gafford for Poole swap makes sense for both parties
A potential deal between the two sides could look like Poole and two to three second-round picks for Gafford and Caleb Martin.Â
From Dallas' point of view, they’d take on around $7 million more in cap this season, but free up a ton of money for either the 2027 or 2028 offseason. With a franchise cornerstone like Flagg and a front office genius like Ujiri running the show, having money available to spend is the most valuable tool. I wouldn’t call Dallas a huge free agent market, but with those two, they definitely are, and opening up cap space with a Gafford and Martin for Poole swap would be intriguing.
On top of that, Poole gives them another ball handler, creator, and floor spacer, which you can never have enough of when building around a young star like Flagg.
For the Pelicans, the benefits of Gafford are obvious. Immediately, Gafford would instantly leapfrog Yves Missi as the team's starting center. Gafford is a high-level screener, play finisher, and interior defender who could give the Pelicans the backline stopper they’ve been missing in the Zion Williamson era. He would also come in with three years left on his deal and fit the team's timeline.Â
The downside to this deal is taking on Martin’s contract, which is a one-plus-a-player option for next offseason at around $10 million per year. New Orleans is already pretty set at the wing position, making it hard to envision where Martin fits into Jamahl Mosley’s rotation. But if taking him on means the Pelicans can get Gafford, then so be it.
The Pelicans really need a center, and Daniel Gafford appears to be readily available. So if Joe Dumars is trying to make up for the lack of change he’s made this offseason, trading for Gafford would be a step in the right direction.
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