Lakers get encouraging Daniel Gafford trade signal for the summer
The Los Angeles Lakers’ search for frontcourt punch may circle back to Daniel Gafford once the offseason window opens, with a prominent analyst framing the Dallas big man as a realistic and sensible target for a summer trade.
Why Daniel Gafford is back on the radar
The Lakers explored avenues to add Gafford ahead of the Feb. 5 trade deadline but ultimately pivoted elsewhere. Interest hasn’t faded. In a Tuesday column, analyst Kevin Pelton wrote that Gafford would be a sensible target for the Lakers this summer, placing the 27-year-old among the most attainable upgrades if the teams engage again. That framing reflects how Gafford’s value is rooted in clarity: he runs, screens, dives, finishes, and protects the rim without needing plays called for him.
Los Angeles has been open about wanting rugged defense and vertical gravity around its star guard line. Gafford checks those boxes while keeping lineups balanced for shooters and secondary creators. If dialogue with Dallas reopens in the coming months, Gafford figures to land near the top of the list.
The on-court fit with Luka Doncic in Los Angeles
Gafford’s blueprint is tailor-made for a lead creator who punishes traps and touch-and-go defensive coverages. He’s already logged meaningful minutes with Luka Doncic, building chemistry as a lob target and short-roll outlet. That synergy would translate in Los Angeles, where pace-changing rim runs and middle-third screens can spring open the offense without complicating spacing. His screening angles and second-jump timing enhance drive-and-kick sequences, while his ability to sprint into early offense provides easy buckets and forces opposing centers to defend in transition.
On defense, Gafford’s length and timing give the Lakers scheme flexibility. He’s comfortable as a drop anchor who deters paint touches, and he can survive brief switches before recovering to challenge at the rim. The net effect: fewer rotation breakdowns, cleaner rebounding lanes, and a sturdier back line late in games.
What the numbers say this season
Gafford is averaging 8.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks in 37 games for Dallas this season, shooting 63.4% from the field. Those counting numbers understate his impact on shot quality and rim pressure. His finishing efficiency forces help defenders to tag earlier, bending coverages that free shooters in the corners. On the other end, he alters attempts and cuts off driving lanes, a profile that typically travels well in the postseason.
That reliability is the appeal: he influences outcomes without needing touches, a premium trait on a roster built around high-usage stars.
Dallas dynamics that could open a door
Dallas has invested in the center position over the past two seasons, drafting Dereck Lively II and bringing in Gafford as a complementary rim-runner. The frontcourt mix, alongside defensive-minded forwards, has given the Mavericks options. Pelton’s assessment that Gafford would be a sensible summer target hints that there could be a pathway for interested teams if Dallas reshapes its rotation or reallocates assets in the offseason.
For the Lakers, the calculus is straightforward: if a two-way big with proven chemistry alongside Doncic becomes gettable at a reasonable price, the move aligns with both immediate needs and longer-term roster balance.
Naji Marshall and P.J. Washington as parallel targets
The Lakers also kicked the tires on wing help before the deadline and could revisit those conversations. Naji Marshall and P.J. Washington were both flagged in the same column as logical options should talks extend beyond Gafford. Marshall, a sturdy perimeter defender with downhill juice, is averaging 15.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.0 steals while shooting 53.1% from the field and 31.4% from deep across 52 games. Washington brings switchable defense and a growing in-between game, contributing 14.0 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.3 blocks, and 1.0 steals this year in Dallas.
Either forward would address Los Angeles’ appetite for size and defense on the wing. But Gafford’s rim-running and shot-blocking may carry the cleanest fit, particularly in lineups that lean on Doncic’s playmaking gravity.
What comes next
The message entering the summer is clear: the Lakers are positioned to pounce if the right deal materializes. Gafford remains an attractive, plug-and-play solution who can anchor defensive possessions and amplify offensive efficiency without disrupting the pecking order. With a respected voice framing him as a sensible target on Tuesday, the runway for renewed talks is there.
Front offices can’t formalize anything until the offseason, but the contours are taking shape. If Los Angeles prioritizes rim protection, vertical spacing, and lineup versatility, Daniel Gafford stands as one of the most straightforward pathways to meaningful improvement.
