One big man who has seemingly been on the Los Angeles Lakers‘ radar is Daniel Gafford of the Dallas Mavericks. In many ways, he seems like the ideal man to fill the Lakers’ hole at the 5, since he’s young and athletic, a lob threat and an excellent shot-blocker and rebounder. Plus, he has played alongside Luka Doncic in the recent past.
On Monday, Gafford reportedly agreed to a three-year contract extension worth up to $60 million that will keep him under contract through the 2028-29 season. It seemed as though the deal meant he would become unavailable via trade.
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But as NBA insider Marc Stein pointed out, the deal was arranged so that Gafford is still eligible to be included in a trade.
“The Mavericks and Gafford came to terms Monday night on a three-year, $54 million contract extension that kicks in starting with the 2026-27 season,” wrote Stein. “Gafford will earn $14.4 million in 2025-26 and his new deal, league sources say, is a straight three-year pact with no player or team options.
“As noted capologist Yossi Gozlan reported on Twitter, Dallas knew it could ensure that Gafford remains immediately trade-eligible by signing him to a three-year extension that does not exceed $54.3 million.”
At the same time, Stein poured some cold water on the notion that the Mavericks will be willing to trade him to the Lakers, or some other team, any time soon.
“Yet one source with knowledge of Dallas’ thinking countered the idea that the new deal was designed to keep Gafford instantly tradeable as opposed to exceeding the $54.3 million figure and invoking a six-month trade restriction. The Mavericks are known to be reluctant to part with Gafford, despite considerable expected trade interest, in the wake of an injury-riddled second season for fellow center Dereck Lively II in which Lively was limited to 36 games.”
In reality, the chances of L.A. landing Gafford were already low prior to him agreeing to that extension. Since Dallas already traded Doncic to L.A. for a low price, many felt it would be reluctant to do another sizable favor for the Purple and Gold.
The Mavericks suddenly have plenty of hope for the future after a miserable close to the season following the Doncic trade. They will presumably take Duke University phenom Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 pick in Wednesday’s NBA draft, and between him, Gafford, Lively, Anthony Davis and P.J. Washington, they should have one of the league’s very best frontcourts for at least the next couple of years.
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In addition, star guard Kyrie Irving is reportedly planning on signing a three-year, $119 million extension of his own.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Insider gives update on Lakers target Daniel Gafford after extension