NBA Trade Rumors: Daniel Gafford Lands with NY Knicks in Proposed Deal

Mitchell Robinson has been back in the lineup for the New York Knicks for the past several games as backup center... For now. The oft-injured big man brings a unique, dynamic and valuable element to the Knicks' lineup, but his availability has always been the problem. He's already missed six of the team's 14 games, and hasn't played more than 31 games in a season in three years. On top of that, he's a pending free agent next summer.

As a solution, we have a trade proposal, brought to us by Keith Watkins of heavy.com, that would bring the Knicks a much steadier and more reliable hand to take on the backup center minutes, in Daniel Gafford.

Gaff has been labelled the Mavericks’ “most likely trade candidate,” by insider Mark Stein. As a somewhat less dynamic, but much more reliable and available shot-blocker and rim runner, Gafford has several observers connecting him to the Knicks, and Watkins lays out a potential trade that would look like this:

NY Knicks receive:

Daniel Gafford, C

Dallas Mavericks receive:

Mitchell Robinson, C
Guerschon Yabusele, C/PF
Other compensation TBA

With a reasonable $17 million annual salary, locked in at three more years, Gafford's stability lies not only in his availability on the floor, but also on the balance sheet.

Aside from a blip last season, playing just 57 games, Gafford had played well over 70 games the previous three seasons, while consistently providing about 11 points, seven boards and over two blocked shots per game.

For the Mavs, they could view Robinson's expiring contract as a means of adding more financial flexibility next summer. They seem to be committed to their own injury-prone center in Dereck Lively II, but perhaps Robinson gives them another option.

This would be a tough call for the Knicks, as Watkins notes. "Gafford brings stability and availability, but Robinson still has the higher ceiling and the more dramatic game-to-game influence... He is respected in the locker room and central to how the Knicks defend. He is also one of the most impactful players on the roster when he is healthy."

Who says no to this proposed deal?