The Atlanta Hawks are naturally going to be linked to every available center this offseason, as it was made incredibly clear during their first-round meeting with the New York Knicks that they need significant help down low.
While they haven't yet been linked to Mavericks center Daniel Gafford this summer, it could be inevitable. According to Marc Stein of The Stein Line, Gafford is among the "veterans that the Mavericks are seen as most open to trading."
Atlanta has shown interest in him before, and there's no reason to believe they won't take a look once more now that he's as available as ever.
Gafford was close to becoming a Hawk at last year's trade deadline
Before ultimately landing Jock Landale in a deal with the Utah Jazz, the Hawks were among the teams that had real interest in acquiring Gafford from Dallas. They were in the market for a frontcourt upgrade, and were exploring all possibilities, similar to what they're expected to do this summer.
If they had interest at the time, surely they'll still have interest now that their biggest weaknesses were exposed. Gafford is a traditional big man. He's a proven paint enforcer who would instantly give Atlanta much of what they've been lacking for quite some time behind Onyeka Okongwu.
He's not perfect, and he's coming off of an underwhelming season, but it's hard to place much blame on him as the roster construction in Dallas didn't benefit his game in the least. In Atlanta, he would gel seamlessly, and could easily fit into the starting lineup if Okongwu ever were to go down.
In three of the last four seasons, Gafford shot over 70% from the field, making him one of the league's most efficient big men. The biggest downside to bringing him in, though, is his contract - which certainly isn't ideal.
The Hawks can ignore his contract if his contributions provide a fix
Having been recently extended by the Mavericks, Gafford is set to earn over $17 million annually over the next three seasons. He matches the Hawks' timeline, though, and a player can quickly change the narrative surrounding their contract with stellar play.
This would also be a chance for the Hawks to do right by Zaccharie Risacher and send him elsewhere. Dallas had interest in him when the two sides were discussing an Anthony Davis trade before last season's deadline, and it could be something they look to revisit as well.
Gaining a paint presence in exchange for a young player in desperate need of a change of scenery could be a move that heavily benefits both sides.
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