The Dallas Mavericks are set to be on the clock Tuesday night in the NBA Draft at No. 9. Dusty May has a golden opportunity to select one of his national champs from Michigan. He selects the 7-foot-3 giant, Aday Mara, which could mean the end for a short but legendary tenure for one of the Mavs' best energy guys.
Daniel Gafford has been involved in trade talks for a year now, and a Mara pick may give Masai Ujiri the best excuse. Gafford has had to deal with injuries all season long after suffering an ankle injury on the first day of training camp. Whenever he was on the court, it was tough to watch. It's almost as if he should've rested for most of the year, but the trooper he is, he put up a fight and played in 55 games.
A Mara pick would almost guarantee the Mavs moving one of their reliable big men. With Dereck Lively II as young as he is and Gafford with good enough stock for future draft capital, it looks like Gafford would be the one getting the boot in what could be a huge logjam for Dallas.
Daniel Gafford could be as good as gone if Aday Mara is picked
There's already a recent history with such a logjam, but it's like it turned into anything. The Mavericks tried to make it work with Anthony Davis, but he couldn't stay healthy. Davis working with Lively II and Gafford could have made for a giant defensive-heavy lineup, but that was Nico Harrison's failed philosophy. This is now with Cooper Flagg's team.
In terms of stats, they don't look as good as the Mavericks' magical 2024 season. Gafford averaged 11.2 PPG, shooting 78 percent from the field and averaging nearly two blocks a game. Mavericks fans stood on the edge of their seats when Gafford came up just two baskets shy of breaking Wilt Chamberlain's record of consecutive made field goals.
Again, there's a path for Gafford to stay, especially if Ujiri goes the route of Brayden Burries or Nate Ament. But with May taking the reins and having intel on his Michigan guys, we have every reason to think he will go in that route.
If Gafford is traded, on draft night, after draft night, or whenever, he would be well missed. He's been the high-energy guy as a starter or as a backup and always provides momentum whenever needed.
Lively II's injury history also plays a role in questions about his long-term future, so anything is possible, and really, nobody is untouchable besides Flagg.
It's a tough decision to make, but Gafford's name has popped up in trade talks too many times. If Mara is picked, expect something to happen this summer.
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