Dallas Mavericks’ franchise star Luka Doncic had long wanted a back-up center to better compliment his game and in new deadline day trade acquisition Daniel Gafford, the perennial All-Star guard finally has one. Elsewhere the Mavs made a shrewd acquisition to acquire PJ Washington from an uncertain situation across conferences in Charlotte, as they continue bolstering their backcourt.
Gafford a good pickup for Dallas’ depth
Even after their risky Kyrie Irving splash, one where the jury is still out twelve months later, Dallas know they can’t afford to rest on their laurels at a time where their franchise centrepiece Luka Doncic is firing on all cylinders and chatter about his reported unhappiness will linger if they continue to underperform.
In came Daniel Gafford from the Washington Wizards last Thursday. They traded for the 25-year-old big man in one of multiple deals on deadline day this past week, offloading Richaun Holmes and a 2024 first-round draft pick before also acquiring PJ Washington for Grant Williams and Seth Curry, as well as a 2027 first-rounder.
It’s not a marquee splash by any means but those deals were deemed important at a time where the Western Conference remains open, outside the defending champion Denver Nuggets. Oklahoma City also made moves as they look to capitalise on an early-starting window of contention while other rival clubs have looked to do similar.
Head coach Jason Kidd said the increased sense of versatility will serve to help them going forward, as far as opposition unpredictability is concerned.
“There’s going to be nights when we shoot 45-to-47 threes, and nights where we can dominate the paint as we did today. It’s good to have these options, we didn’t have these earlier.”
Doncic had 32 points on 9-of-14 shooting splits alongside eight rebounds and nine assists during their 146-111 blowout win over the aforementioned Thunder at the weekend, and Gafford was glad to be partnered up with the Slovenian star.
“It means a lot because it gives me the opportunity to show what I’m good at: running the floor, catching lobs, rebounding, screaming… at the end of the day I’m just doing my job and he helped me do my job tonight,” he said postgame.
Dallas still have rookie center Dereck Lively (nose surgery) to return, likely by the month’s end, though both Gafford and Washington are expected to see an increase in minutes at the expense of veteran power forward Maxi Kleber.
That comes as a direct result of their respective individual displays against OKC – the ball club scored a franchise-record 47 points in the first quarter alone, and will want to build on their recent form before the All-Star break this weekend.
Picture source: Getty Images, quotes via Dallas Morning News
Mo and Sports 