Feb 8, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis (3) and center Daniel Gafford (21) celebrates after Davis dunks the ball during the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Houston Rockets at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Mavericks may be forced to make tough decision on starting center

Originally posted on Dallas Mavericks on SI
By Austin Veazey | Last updated May 10, 2025 9:04 PM ET

Anthony Davis got something he wanted when he was traded from the Los Angeles Lakers to the Dallas Mavericks as part of the surprising Luka Doncic deal: not having to play full-time center. It's something he'd been asking from the Lakers' front office for the last few years, but they weren't able to give it to him for whatever reason.

In Dallas, Davis got to play alongside Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II when everyone was healthy. While the offense with two bigs in the frontcourt could look sluggish, it's how Davis wants to play. But that may not be a long-term option.

ESPN's Tim MacMahon revealed that the Mavericks may be forced to move from Daniel Gafford in the near future, though.

"The Mavericks quietly sniffed around on the value of Daniel Gafford before this last [trade] deadline," MacMahon revealed on the "Hoop Collective" podcast," it certainly would make sense for them to do that again this summer. Dereck Lively is a year away from getting an extension, Daniel Gafford is entering the final year of his contract, Gafford reasonably and rightfully wants to get starting center money… You can’t have AD on a max, Lively on a big contract, and pay Gafford starting center money."

“…[Mavericks C] Daniel Gafford is entering the final year of his contract, Gafford reasonably and rightly wants to get starting center money. You can’t have AD on a max, Lively on a big contract and pay Gafford starting center money." - @espn_macmahon #MFFL

(: @ESPNNBA) pic.twitter.com/9n0QemGeNI
— Kevin Gray Jr. (@KevinGraySports) May 10, 2025

MacMahon mentions that former Maverick Luka Doncic has great chemistry with Gafford, with there even being some chatter that Gafford wanted to play on the Slovenian national team with Doncic last summer. And after Luka Doncic's return to Dallas, he could be seen telling Gafford that they'll play together again.

Nico Harrison would be a brave man to re-engage the Lakers on a trade after he was swindled by Rob Pelinka the first time. Anything less than a return of Austin Reaves wouldn't feel like enough.

This article first appeared on Dallas Mavericks on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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