NBA Trade Rumors: Daniel Gafford Heads to Pacers To Fill Huge Center Void in Proposed Deal

The Dallas Mavericks have a glut of legitimate big men on their roster, with Anthony Davis, Dereck Lively II, and Daniel Gafford vying for minutes up front (not to mention natural power forwards Cooper Flagg and PJ Washington, even though Flagg is currently playing out of position at guard).

Over in the Eastern Conference, the Indiana Pacers are hurting at the 'five', after losing Myles Turner in a shocking free agent defection to the Milwaukee Bucks. The Pacers have draft flop James Wiseman, along with Jay Huff and Isaiah Jackson manning minutes in the middle for now.

It seems like a match almost too good to ignore. The undervalued Daniel Gafford—who has been a legit starter in this league when called upon—would be the ideal Indiana trade target, as proposed by Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report.

Gafford has improved in each of his six years in the Association, and started 31 of his 57 games last season in Dallas, averaging 13.8 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.2 blocks and 70.7% shooting from the floor in those starting appearances. And if the Pacers (or any other acquiring team) were to just let this guy run with some big minutes on a nightly basis, who knows what he could accomplish? The 27-year-old had Per-36 Minutes stats last season of 20.6 points, 11.4 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game.

He'd be a great replacement for Turner, except for the floor-spacing part.

As for what the Pacers might have to surrender, Swartz doesn't say. With their shortage in the backcourt with All-Star Tyrese Haliburton out for the year, it may be difficult to find a match. The Pacers aren't likely to trade either of their two burgeoning young 2023 first-rounders, as both Jarace Walker and Ben Sheppard have taken big leaps already this season in just two games.

Indiana does hold its own first-round picks for the next several years, though they'd be highly unlikely to send their 2026 pick, as, without Haliburton this year, it could be a lottery pick. But once their leader is back next season, Indiana figures to be back near the top of the East, and those future year picks would not be worth as much.

Gafford, we should note, is signed to a team-friendly extension in Dallas for the next three years, with an AAV of $18M. He's currently out for the Mavs with an ankle sprain.