{"id":61564,"date":"2025-05-15T08:26:23","date_gmt":"2025-05-15T08:26:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=61564"},"modified":"2025-05-15T08:26:23","modified_gmt":"2025-05-15T08:26:23","slug":"update-mavericks-are-shopping-an-absolute-dream-trade-target-for-the-lakers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=61564","title":{"rendered":"UPDATE: Mavericks are shopping an absolute dream trade target for the Lakers"},"content":{"rendered":"<header class=\"relative z-10\">\n<div class=\"article-intro mb-4 text-darkGrey font-group-large md:font-group-normal lg:font-group-large\">Luka may get his man.<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"mb-0 md:mb-9 relative md:mx-10 md:mb-9\">\n<figure>\n<div class=\"overflow-hidden bg-lightGrey\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,x_0,y_0,w_8001,h_4500\/c_fill,w_360,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images%2FImagnImages%2Fmmsport%2F20%2F01jv8zb7mxn325ay45nh.jpg 1x,  \nhttps:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,x_0,y_0,w_8001,h_4500\/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images%2FImagnImages%2Fmmsport%2F20%2F01jv8zb7mxn325ay45nh.jpg 2x, \n    https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,x_0,y_0,w_8001,h_4500\/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images%2FImagnImages%2Fmmsport%2F20%2F01jv8zb7mxn325ay45nh.jpg 3x\" media=\"(max-width: 719px)\" \/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,x_0,y_0,w_8001,h_4500\/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images%2FImagnImages%2Fmmsport%2F20%2F01jv8zb7mxn325ay45nh.jpg 1x, \nhttps:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,x_0,y_0,w_8001,h_4500\/c_fill,w_1440,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images%2FImagnImages%2Fmmsport%2F20%2F01jv8zb7mxn325ay45nh.jpg 2x, \n    https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,x_0,y_0,w_8001,h_4500\/c_fill,w_1440,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images%2FImagnImages%2Fmmsport%2F20%2F01jv8zb7mxn325ay45nh.jpg 3x\" media=\"(max-width: 1079px)\" \/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,x_0,y_0,w_8001,h_4500\/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images%2FImagnImages%2Fmmsport%2F20%2F01jv8zb7mxn325ay45nh.jpg 1x, \nhttps:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,x_0,y_0,w_8001,h_4500\/c_fill,w_2160,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images%2FImagnImages%2Fmmsport%2F20%2F01jv8zb7mxn325ay45nh.jpg 2x,\n    https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,x_0,y_0,w_8001,h_4500\/c_fill,w_2160,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images%2FImagnImages%2Fmmsport%2F20%2F01jv8zb7mxn325ay45nh.jpg 3x\" media=\"(min-width: 1080px)\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"undefined w-full w-full\" title=\"Los Angeles Lakers, Rob Pelinka\" src=\"https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,x_0,y_0,w_8001,h_4500\/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images\/ImagnImages\/mmsport\/20\/01jv8zb7mxn325ay45nh.jpg\" alt=\"Los Angeles Lakers, Rob Pelinka\" width=\"8001\" height=\"4500\" data-uw-rm-alt-original=\"Los Angeles Lakers, Rob Pelinka\" data-uw-rm-alt=\"ALT\" \/><\/picture><\/div><figcaption class=\"ml-1 pb-2 mt-4 md:m-3 text-darkGrey font-group-tiny\">Los Angeles Lakers, Rob Pelinka | Kirby Lee-Imagn Image<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"flex flex-wrap justify-center lg:justify-normal\">\n<div class=\"flex lg:mr-4 lg:w-[calc(70%-3em)] max-w-full\"><main class=\"min-w-0 flex-1\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"viewablity-block\">\n<figure class=\"player-wrapper relative aspect-video mb-[18px] bg-grey rounded-md hidden player-wrapper-lg md:block\">\n<div id=\"mm-player-placeholder-large-screen\" class=\"absolute top-0 left-0 w-full h-full\">\n<div class=\"voltax-mp-placeholder voltax-mp-placeholder-anchored floating\" data-is-split-view=\"false\">\n<div class=\"voltax-mp-container-anchored\">\n<div class=\"titleBar title-anchor\"><span class=\"title\"><span class=\"\">Inside Travis Kelce&#8217;s horror 2025 schedule as Kansas City Chiefs games are revealed (&#8230;and it&#8217;s bad news for Taylor Swift!), and other top stories from May 15, 2025.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<div class=\"article-content\">\n<p>The Los Angeles Lakers could get Daniel Gafford from the Mavericks, who shined playing off Luka Doncic during their 2024 NBA Finals run. Luka wants a rim-rolling big man capable of protecting the rim. Gafford checks those boxes and keeps improving. It is a\u00a0pressure-packed offseason in LA\u00a0and getting their new star a familiar center is ideal.<\/p>\n<p>Luka\u00a0made Jaxson Hayes look good. He is one of the best pick-and-roll ball-handlers and an elite lob passer. Doncic has eyes in the back of his head and always finds an open big man for an easy deuce. He turned Gafford into a consistent double-digit per game score and key starter on a team that reached the finals.<\/p>\n<p>The two quickly grew close after a midseason trade that send Gafford from Washington to Dallas in 2024. So close, the 6\u201910 big man considered\u00a0becoming a naturalized citizen of Slovenia\u00a0to play with Luka\u2019s national team. Both sides would certainly welcome a reunion in Hollywood.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"inline-text-3\" class=\"scroll-mt-24 my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1\">Lakers would love to add Daniel Gafford this summer<\/h2>\n<p>Gafford is set to make $14.3 million next season in the final year of his contract. Dallas has Anthony Davis, Dereck Lively, and P.J. Washington fighting for big man minutes with Cooper Flagg set to join after an improbable lottery win. The Mavs must move a big man to playing time, and Gafford\u2019s expiring contract\u00a0makes him the most likely.<\/p>\n<p>Beyond his connection with Luka, Gafford is an elite finisher around the rim and a strong shot-blocker. He has shot over 70 percent from the field for three straight years and blocked 1.8 shots in 21.5 minutes per game over his 86 games with the Mavericks.<\/p>\n<p>The 26-year-old is in his prime. His athletic ability and two-way potential are musts in any center target. Rob Pelinka\u00a0already fleeced Nico Harrison\u00a0in the Luka trade. He could do it again this summer to land Gafford as the Lakers&#8217; starting center.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-7\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1\">The 6\u201910 big man began all 22 games for Dallas in the 2024 playoffs and played 20.2 minutes per contest. He can stay on the floor in the playoffs. Luka wants a big man. Getting him someone he trusts who can play in the most important games makes Gafford the perfect fit.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-8\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1\">The Lakers could offer the expiring contract of Maxi Kleber or Gabe Vincent plus some salary filler like Shake Milton or Jordan Goodwin with draft capital. Mavericks GM Nico Harrison doesn\u2019t appear to care about picks, so this could be the Lakers getting another bargain from Dallas.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-9\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1\">The Los Angeles Lakers must get Luka Doncic a center this offseason. Daniel Gafford would instantly be a key piece, but can the franchise pull this off? It is the dream scenario. Sadly, that doesn&#8217;t guarantee it works out. Dallas has him on the block, which may allow LA to swoop in. Fans can only hope.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/main><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Luka may get his man. Los Angeles Lakers, Rob Pelinka | Kirby Lee-Imagn Image Inside Travis Kelce&#8217;s horror 2025 schedule as Kansas City Chiefs games are revealed&#8230; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":61565,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-61564","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nba"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>UPDATE: Mavericks are shopping an absolute dream trade target for the Lakers - News 365<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=61564\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"UPDATE: Mavericks are shopping an absolute dream trade target for the Lakers - News 365\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Luka may get his man. 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