The Dallas Mavericks are making moves as they continue to retool the roster around the former first-round pick, Cooper Flagg. As they get younger, the Dallas Mavericks should be a team the Philadelphia 76ers keep their eyes on for potential trade opportunities.
One intriguing player on the Mavs' block is the veteran center, Daniel Gafford. According to the NBA insider Marc Stein, the Mavs are actively discussing trades involving the veteran center.
While that doesn't indicate the Mavs are desperate to move him, the Mavs center's chances of being in Dallas by the end of the 2026-2027 NBA season are "not an answerable question," according to Stein.
Should the Sixers explore a Gafford trade?
The 76ers have their typical question marks at center beyond their star big man, Joel Embiid.
After letting Andre Drummond walk to the New York Knicks in free agency, the Sixers signed the former Knicks backup Ariel Hukporti. They still have Adem Bona and Johni Broome in the room.
Acquiring Daniel Gafford would instantly boost the Sixers' bench. There wouldn't even have to be a competition behind Embiid, as the 27-year-old's experience would give him the nod to play backup to the former MVP.
Plus, the starting experience is a major plus. Seeing as though Embiid has struggled to play in more than 40 games in each of the past three seasons, his backup(s) will be starting more than your typical No. 2.
In three seasons with the Mavs, Gafford started in 96 out of 141 games. Seeing the court for 21.6 minutes per game, Gafford has produced averages of 11.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks.
As good as he could be in that role for the Sixers, striking a deal to acquire him would be a financial challenge. Gafford is starting a three-year extension in 2026-2027, which starts with a $17.2 million salary.
By the end of the deal, which is fully guaranteed, Gafford will collect a total of $54.3 million. With the Sixers being a top-heavy squad, having so much tied up into their core, they can't invest much into the backup center spot.
Could the Sixers try to move on from Embiid?
Our friend Eamon Cassels recently explored a handful of trade ideas for the Sixers to possibly cut ties with Joel Embiid.
In the hypothetical package for the Mavs, the Sixers send Embiid, the 2029 LA Clippers first-rounder, and Labaron Philon Jr., in exchange for PJ Washington, Klay Thompson, and Daniel Gafford.
We like Gafford as a backup, but a replacement for Embiid? Highly doubtful. This idea hurts the Sixers for several reasons.
For starters, the fan base just got over the loss of Jared McCain, mainly due to the fact that Philon has looked great so far. Getting rid of both of them in under a year would just cause so much frustration.
As for that highly valuable 2029 Clippers pick? If the Sixers didn't have to give that up for Jaylen Brown, they are certainly not going to want to give it up to move a former MVP for role players.
Embiid's lack of consistent availability remains a major concern for the Sixers, but they've gone all-in on him at this point. Unless Mike Gansey is really in town to cause a major shake-up, the Sixers aren't going to send him to a rebuilding team to wrap up his multi-year extension.
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