The Atlanta Hawks are in pursuit of Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford, who is ostensibly available after the team traded Anthony Davis earlier this afternoon.
The Mavericks were at a crossroads this deadline: do they blow it up and rebuild around Cooper Flagg, or do they opt for a two-timeline approach? With Davis, Kyrie Irving, and a cast of intriguing role players, there was reason for Dallas to believe in the latter option.
The Davis trade was their way of waving the white flag. Without their star – the return package for Luka Doncic – Dallas cannot compete in the near future. At this point, it would be wise to liquidate their valuable players into draft assets to maximize the Flagg era.
Gafford is one of these players with value, and Atlanta has a hole at the center position. As a result, the Hawks have shown renewed interest in Gafford following the Davis trade, per Marc Stein.
A Gafford trade could be a good move, depending on the price
Gafford is a solid center, although his fit isn’t exactly great in Atlanta.
He plays a simple game, specializing in paint defense and interior finishes. In the 2023-24 season, Gafford averaged 2.1 blocks per game and was the most efficient scorer in the league by EFG%. While his numbers have taken a slight hiccup this season, the Arkansas product would be more than enough for Atlanta in the short term.
Kristaps Porzingis has played in under 33% of Atlanta’s games this season, leaving Onyeka Okongwu and Christian Koloko as the only centers on the roster.
The team has struggled mightily without a healthy center rotation, and Okongwu has missed extended time with a dental fracture. Gafford would instantly fill this hole in the roster. This trade would instantly convert into wins for Atlanta.
The question with Gafford is whether his three-year, 54 million extension that kicks in next season is an asset Atlanta finds desirable. Onsi Saleh has emphasized “optionality,” or the concept of keeping your roster flexible, throughout his brief tenure as GM. Whether this move would increase or decrease Atlanta’s optionality depends on the price.
Gafford is not the long-term answer at center for this team, but he has a long-term contract. Jalen Johnson has impressed with his perimeter scoring this season, but I’m not entirely sold on the premise that he will be an above average shooter. In my eyes, the “franchise center” of the team has to be a stretch five. Gafford cannot shoot – he’s attempted one three in his career.
This means that acquiring Gafford would come with the plan to eventually move him again. If Atlanta can steal Gafford for cheap (maybe a couple second round picks and salary filler, likely Luke Kennard), Saleh might be comfortable enough to pull the trigger.
Gafford will certainly have the opportunity to play in Atlanta, and perhaps he could rehab his trade value on a better team than the Mavericks. If Saleh believes he can acquire the big man for seconds and sell him for first(s), expect Gafford to be a short-term solution at the five. This would buy the Hawks a draft upgrade and valuable time to find a young stretch five for the future.
If Dallas drives up a high asking price, however, as they did when Atlanta inquired about Anthony Davis, Saleh should walk away. Gafford isn’t exactly a can’t-miss prospect with his contract and fit concerns.