Daniel Gafford Signs Lucrative Extension

Daniel Gafford and the Dallas Mavericks have agreed on a contract extension. It’s a three-year contract worth $60 million. Mavericks executives and Gafford’s agents negotiated the new agreement with Mike George and Shy Saee of Klutch Sports. It will last until the 2028–29 campaign. This deal ensures that he is trade-eligible this season.

Daniel Gafford Joins Loaded Frontcourt

Two seasons earlier, the Mavericks acquired Gafford from the Washington Wizards. It was one of two significant moves that sparked the team’s 2024 run to the NBA Finals. Since that postseason run, the team has changed, and he is a member of a loaded frontcourt that now boasts Cooper Flagg, the likely No. 1 pick in this week’s draft, All-NBA big man Anthony Davis, and 21-year-old Center Dereck Lively II.

On-Court Ability

Gafford is a superb rim finisher and lob threat. Since joining the NBA in 2019–20, he has had the best career field goal percentage (71%), with at least 1,000 tries. As the contesting defender this past season, he ranked in the top 10 in field goal % allowed (minimum 800 shots contested), demonstrating his excellent interior presence on defense. Last season, Gafford averaged 12.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game but missed 21 games after suffering a right knee sprain in February.

Conclusion

This contract extension comes just days before the 2025 NBA Draft. The Mavs are likely to add Flagg, a Duke product, to their frontcourt with the No. 1 pick. Together with Gafford, Anthony Davis, PJ Washington, Lively, and Naji Marshall, Flagg would create a potent two-way team that would give the Mavs lineup flexibility.

Teams can begin negotiating with upcoming free agents on the day after the last game of the NBA Finals. On July 1, teams can discuss deals with free agents and make agreements, but cannot officially sign contracts until July 6.