The Dallas Mavericks landed one of the best rookies in NBA history a year ago with Cooper Flagg, and with the return of Kyrie Irving looming, this is a team that could be a dark horse threat in the Western Conference.
This off-season, they’ve been busy solidifying this roster around Flagg and Irving as the core group to lead them forward, and if healthy, they could be a post-season threat in 2026/27. However, at this current time they’ve got more players than they can roster heading into the regular season, and given that backup Daniel Gafford is drawing interest, their asking price for him has now officially been revealed.
Mavericks Asking for a First-Round Pick in Daniel Gafford Trade Talks
GettyDaniel Gafford of the Dallas Mavericks.
One position the Mavericks are very strong in is the center spot, and after the team matched the New York Knicks offer sheet for Moussa Cisse earlier this off-season, they’ve now got four NBA caliber players at the 5, with insiders believing that something will give in the next few weeks ahead of training camp.
That’s led to trade speculation around some of those players, with Daniel Gafford seemingly becoming the player in their rotation that makes the most sense to move ahead of training camp. Now, Brett Siegel with Clutch Points has revealed the Mavericks asking price for Gafford, and given his history with the organization, it’s no surprise that they’ve put a very rich price tag on him ahead of the regular season.
“Speaking of Gafford, the Mavs continue to signal that they will be very open to any deal involving Gafford that would net them a first-round pick,” Siegel writes.
Daniel Gafford Could be Traded to Clear the Mavericks Rotation
On top of both Cisse and Gafford, the Mavericks have Santi Aldama and Derrick Lively II on their roster, and while Cisse may not be ready for a significant role yet, that still leaves three other players, making it the overwhelming expectation that at least one of those three will be dealt in the coming weeks.
However, a first-round pick is a hefty asking price for Gafford, a player that averaged 10 points and 7 rebounds a year ago, and given that he’s never truly excelled as a starter, it’s a price point that teams around the NBA may be hesitant to match. As a backup though, Gafford has more than enough skill and experience to play a significant role, so for contenders out there seeking a backup, Gafford may fit what they’re looking for if Dallas can be flexible in these talks.
Ultimately, as of right now it appears as though the Mavericks will go into training camp with all four players battling it out for three roster spots, but if a team steps up to the plate and believes that Gafford is worth a first-round pick, don’t be shocked to see him as the odd-man out in the Mavs center rotation ahead of the 2026/27 season.
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