NBA writer proposes trade that would give Lakers the center they need
NBA writer proposes trade that would give Lakers the center they need
The Los Angeles Lakers' biggest roster need this offseason is obviously a starting-level center. Their lack of such a player was never more evident than it was during their loss in the first round of the NBA playoffs to the Minnesota Timberwolves, who manhandled them inside and outrebounded them badly.
The Lakers lost the series in five games, and general manager Rob Pelinka readily admitted their need for an upgrade at the 5 spot afterward. There will surely be plenty of rumors and proposals over the next several weeks as far as what they may do to address this deficiency.
Veteran NBA reporter Tim MacMahon suggested on the "The Hoop Collective" podcast that the franchise team up with a friendly general manager who already gave them a huge gift three months ago by proposing that it acquire Daniel Gafford from the Dallas Mavericks.
'Let me throw one at you. This is pure hypothetical, me trying to be GM, figure out things that might make sense,' MacMahon said.
'The Mavericks quietly sniffed around the value of Daniel Gafford before this deadline. It certainly would make sense for them to do that this summer.'
The Mavs and executive Nico Harrison obviously sent Luka Doncic to Los Angeles at a low price, and Harrison has a friendship with Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka that goes back many years.
MacMahon's reasoning from the Mavs' perspective is that they will not be able to keep all of their key big men.
'Dereck Lively is a year away from getting an extension, Daniel Gafford is entering the final year of his contract, Gafford reasonably and rightly wants to get starting center money,' MacMahon explained.
'You can't have AD (Anthony Davis) on a max, Lively on a big contract and pay Gafford starting center money.'
The reporter then proposed what type of package the Lakers could send to Dallas for Gafford.
'I could at least put something together that would at least be intriguing for the Mavericks.
'Rui [Hachimura], all those picks that they've got to give up, a swap or two, I can put something together to make sense to both sides.'
Gafford would be a very solid get for Los Angeles. At 6-foot-10, he isn't the tallest center around, but he weighs 265 pounds and is a true shot-blocker. This season, he averaged 12.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in 21.5 minutes a game.
He shot an incredible 70.2% from the field, mostly because 69% of his field-goal attempts came from within three feet of the basket. But he had 113 dunks in 57 games and is the type of lob threat and rim runner who the Lakers need in the middle offensively.
Of course, Gafford spent some time playing with Doncic, so the two already have a bit of chemistry together.
He will make just under $14.4 million next season, so it shouldn't cost a lot of trade capital to get him, and at age 26, he could be a member of the Lakers for years to come.
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