The Atlanta Hawks are reportedly interested in Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford to fill their hole in the center rotation, per Marc Stein.
A league source told Stein (subscription required), “I have heard a rival executive or two posit that the teams do have the option of pivoting to a potential Daniel Gafford swap.” He followed with, “Atlanta is said to have some interest in the Dallas big man alongside Indiana and Boston.”
With the cap space cleared in the Trae Young trade, the Hawks have the ability to find a third center to feature alongside Okyeka Okongwu and the oft-injured Kristaps Porzingis. Rumors surfaced that Atlanta was among the leaders in a possible Anthony Davis trade, but recent developments have halted any progress.
Dallas reportedly demanded Zaccharie Risacher in a trade, and the Hawks rightfully deemed the French sophomore an untouchable asset. To make matters worse, Davis suffered a hand injury that could leave him sidelined for months. With an already existing gulf in the asking price, the injury ended any chance of a blockbuster trade.
Gafford is a much better trade option than Davis
Gafford was traded from Washington to Dallas at the 2024 trade deadline. His impact immediately lifted a Mavs team that lacked quality center depth, forming a surprisingly strong duo with then-rookie Dereck Lively II. The Gafford trade is largely credited for helping the Mavericks take the leap from playoff threats to title contenders, as the team made the Finals that season.
Atlanta’s situation resembles Dallas’s quite closely. The Hawks simply need sturdy play down low – in playstyle, availability, and performance. Gafford checks all of these boxes as a seven-footer that averaged over 1.8 blocks a game over the last two seasons. He sets hard screens, is a solid rebounder, and minimizes mistakes. While the Arkansas product isn’t an elite center, the mere presence of a third center will do wonders for the Hawks’ woeful interior presence.
Gafford is in the first year of a three-year, $54 million contract. Considering the cost of a trade and the salary structure, a trade for Gafford seems much more plausible than a Davis trade.
Gafford does present one problem: he can’t shoot. While most teams can afford to employ a non-shooter at the five, the Hawks are set to roster Dyson Daniels for the next 4.5 years. Daniels is the ultimate non-shooting threat, posting a horrific 11.3% clip from downtown. It will be hard to play Gafford and Daniels together for long stretches, as they will both clog up the paint for themselves and their teammates.
Still, Gafford is a center who would immediately help Atlanta and is on a neutral-value contract. It isn’t the flashiest move, but the Hawks would be foolish not to inquire about Gafford’s availability.