Why the Mavericks didn’t trade Daniel Gafford in the middle of the Pacers interests the Hawks
With the Atlanta Hawks and Indiana Pacers being the two teams looking for big-time help at the NBA trade deadline, one name was on the Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford was on the radar of both teams. The Mavericks talked to teams about Gafford’s availability, but there was one key reason why the talks did not progress further, according to ClutchPoints’ NBA insider Brett Siegel.
The issue that ultimately killed the Mavericks-Pacers-Hawks trade talks regarding Daniel Gafford was the unwillingness of both teams to include a first-round pick in the upcoming draft, which is what the Mavericks were looking for. The Pacers would not surrender their 2026 first-round pick, while the Hawks, who own two 2026 picks, would not give up one of their own. The 2026 draft is expected to be a good one.
The Mavericks were also reportedly not interested in reacquiring Benedict Maturin from the Pacers so as not to jeopardize their cap space during the offseason, and Maturin is open to an extension. Mathurin was eventually traded to the LA Clippers, and the Pacers got their big man in Ivica Zubac.
Gafford remains a production centerthough his injury is a concern, and right now he’s the only real center for the Mavericks given Derek Lively II’s season-ending injury, and not counting two-way signing Moussa Cisse.
The 38th overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, Gafford was one of the Mavericks’ major acquisitions in the 2024 draft, helping the team reach the NBA Finals. He appeared in 37 games, including 27 starts, logging just over 21 minutes per game.
He averaged 8.2 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.4 blocks, shooting 63.4 percent from the field and 75.5 percent from the free throw line.
2026-02-11 21:39:00
