Lakers’ Offseason Outlook Could Shift After Daniel Gafford’s Mavericks Extension

The Dallas Mavericks agreed to a contract extension with center Daniel Gafford, taking him off the board as a potential solution at center for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Gafford played several seasons alongside Lakers star Luka Doncic and established himself as one of the better starting centers in the NBA.

The seven-foot center plays as a rim-running big man who can catch lob passes and protect the rim well enough. Gafford is the prototype for what Doncic loves in a center, but his latest contract makes him untradeable until midway through the season.

The Mavs gave Gafford a three-year deal worth $60 million, coming out to $20 million per season.

At 26 years of age, the deal locks Gafford in Dallas for the foreseeable future. He should pair well with power forward Anthony Davis, who doesn't enjoy playing center.

The Lakers can comfortably cross Gafford off the team's shopping list this offseason.

Los Angeles cannot afford to wait for Gafford to become tradeable since their center need is so urgent. The front office will pivot to other young center targets.

There are several reports linking the Lakers to big men like the Utah Jazz's Walker Kessler and the Detroit Pistons' Jalen Duren.

Both centers offer a similar profile to Gafford, but they are younger, cheaper, and still have plenty of room to grow alongside Doncic.

Brook Lopez and Clint Capela provide veteran experience at the center spot and should be attainable for the Lakers via free agency as rotational options off the bench.

Their recent struggles and advanced age mean they do not offer a long-term solution, which means the Lakers are likely going to pursue a younger option even if they sign a veteran.

During his exit interview, Lakers president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka made it clear that the team will do whatever it takes to upgrade the center position on the roster.

“It’s very clear, and it was clear then and we spoke to it, that this team and this roster needs more size and needs a center position,” Pelinka said.

“That’s a very clear and obvious byproduct of trading potentially the best big in the league to Dallas to get a point guard. Of course that’s going to open up a huge hole.

“As I said before, the trade deadline and the moments up to it don’t allow you the requisite time to explore every single unturned stone to add a big to our roster. We just didn’t have the time after the Luka trade but now we do.

“That’s the good news. Clearly, we’ll be very diligent, we’ll be very detailed, we’ll work hard.

With Gafford out of the picture, the Lakers need to turn over more stones.

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