The first item on the Los Angeles Lakers‘ to-do list this offseason is to acquire a starting-caliber center. There are a few different ways in which they can go about this task, but there seem to be a few prime candidates emerging for them via the trade target.

One of those candidates could be Dallas Mavericks big man Daniel Gafford. He fits the profile of the type of center the Lakers want and need — he’s athletic and can run the floor, he’s a good finisher around the rim and a lob threat, and he’s a good shot-blocker and rim protector.

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The problem is that after the Mavs sent the Lakers Luka Doncic for a very low price and received a boatload of criticism and backlash as a result, they may not be willing to do another favor for Los Angeles.

But Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report proposed a way for L.A. to get Gafford without having to deal directly with Dallas. He suggested that the Mavs send Gafford to the Orlando Magic for guard Cole Anthony and a 2025 first-round draft pick, followed by a three-team deal between the Lakers, Magic and Brooklyn Nets.

In the second deal, the Lakers would only give up rookie sharpshooter Dalton Knecht and veteran big man Maxi Kleber, who was thrown into the Doncic trade, to get Gafford. It wouldn’t even require them to surrender any draft picks.

Via Bleacher Report:

“Gafford, who turns 27 at the beginning of October, played with Dončić in Dallas,” Pincus wrote. “The two remain close, and Gafford is looking for a new long-term home. With his next payday unlikely in Dallas and the Lakers desperate to pair Dončić with a lob threat, pairing them back up together would make a lot of sense.

“The challenge may be getting Dallas to even pick up the phone if the Lakers call after the massive local backlash to the Dončić blockbuster. The Lakers also don’t have a clear solution for the Mavericks’ point guard void with Irving sidelined.

“To avoid the conflict of interest, Dallas and Los Angeles would get what they both need from Orlando (with some help from the Nets) separately.”

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Gafford averaged 12.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in 21.5 minutes a game while making 70.2% of his shot attempts this season for the Mavericks. He is young enough to be a solution to L.A.’s need for a center for years to come.

Knecht, meanwhile, showed some promise as a rookie this season. He was offered to the Charlotte Hornets in the attempted trade for up-and-coming center Mark Williams that was rescinded when Williams failed his physical, and he is someone Los Angeles would likely have to give up to get ahead.

The question, however, is why Orlando wouldn’t want to keep Gafford. Orlando has a young and promising team that could’ve done some damage in this year’s playoffs if it hadn’t been for injuries, and Moritz Wagner, one of its key big men, could opt out of his contract and become a free agent this summer.

Gafford has one season remaining on his contract, and he could be a better complement to Franz Wagner, the Magic’s emerging star forward, than Moritz Wagner is.

This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Trade idea gives Lakers an ideal center without giving up draft picks