The Dallas Mavericks fired general manager Nico Harrison this week, less than 10 months after the longtime executive made one of the most inconceivable trades in NBA History.
That isn’t going to immediately fix the product on the court. The Mavericks’ roster, saturated with bigs and deprived of guards, is very unbalanced around Cooper Flagg, who they drafted No. 1 overall last June.
It’s only a matter of time before they trade Anthony Davis, who has suited up for just 14 games since being moved in the Luka Doncic blockbuster. The fire sale shouldn’t stop there.
Thankfully for the Mavericks, one suitor in need of a consolidation trade — with little frontcourt depth — is the Miami Heat. And president Pat Riley should strongly consider aiming to acquire one of the Mavericks’ backup bigs ahead of the deadline.
Why Heat should eventually target Daniel Gafford:
Miami entered the season with a razor-thin big man rotation of Bam Adebayo and Kel’el Ware. Adebayo has missed the last five games with a toe injury, while Ware has notably struggled. Its defensive rebounding has plummeted in Adebayo’s absence.
We know that the three-time All-Star will be returning soon, but the Heat needs more size in the frontcourt. Gafford helps mitigate those struggles.
Gafford, 27, is averaging 9.5 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.5 blocks across 21.9 minutes per game. He’s athletic and a good vertical spacer and shot blocker. His fit alongside Ware would be more murky than Adebayo, but the 6-foot-10 big could provide a legitimate boost off the bench at doing “big man” things (rebound, screen, catch lobs, block shots, etc.).
The two biggest questions would be 1.) What would the Heat have to give up? And 2.) figuring out how they would navigate his extension.
Gafford is owed $54.4 million (also starting next season) through 2028-29, which is manageable, but not ideal for a center who projects to be a 20-23-minute per game backup, at most, barring injury.
Miami does have cheap contracts at guard (Smith, Jakucionis, Mitchell), which makes it easier to absorb him, though at least one may need to be consolidated to fill Dallas’ pressing need unless a third team gets involved. The Mavericks are also a second-apron team, meaning they can’t aggregate or absorb more than Gafford’s $14.4 million.
Nevertheless, there are obstacles. But Dallas is likely seeking opportunities to clear its books in the short- and long-term as it begins this teardown. And Gafford should be a name they kick the tires on.
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A year ago that type of player was exactly what we needed. Right now, not that much.
Gafford excels as pick and roll player, was excellent with Luka playing point.
He doesnt fit the new Heat style, where there is no pick and roll. And he is also not very good rim protector and rebounder. We need a center of that type.
This is exactly how I see it. But I am pretty sure that there will be more opportunities to get help for our front court, we just need to stay patient. Hopefully Bam will be back soon.
Miami needs to find a young athletic rebounder and good defender. Preferably an inexpensive player in first or second year of rookie contract who can be molded into Heat’s style of play. Gafford is a big plodding center who cannot be paired with Ware. Need a PF/C combo type who can play C with Bam or PF with Ware. Too much money for a player whose style may bot be compatible with Miami’s run & gun style.
Gafford would be a solid addition to this team.
not sure when kyries coming back but he would change that team big time
Solid is not what is needed in run & gun. Long, tough, agile, athletic, defensive, rebounding PF/C with enough energy to run up and down the court.
Vagi is right. Heat could have used him last year under the old system. Not so much under the new one.