Seventh-year Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic has been widely predicted to reunite with Daniel Gafford, his former teammate on the Dallas Mavericks, before the NBA trade deadline on February 5.
ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel first reported that the Lakers will pursue Gafford to bolster their depth at the center position behind Deandre Ayton. “One of the teams with strong interest in Gafford dating back to last season is the Los Angeles Lakers, sources said,” Siegel reported on November 7. “Could we see a reunion between Luka Doncic and Gafford in Los Angeles in February?”
Following this, several analysts and fans urged the Lakers to pursue Gafford, given the big man’s proven chemistry with Doncic. Gafford was a key piece of the Mavericks team that made it to the 2024 NBA Finals, averaging 9.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks through 22 postseason games a few seasons ago.
### Lakers Could Pursue Gafford
Noah Weber of The Smoking Cuban believes that Mavericks fans would be heartbroken if the Nico Harrison-led front office trades Gafford to the Lakers, especially considering the historic Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis trade less than a year ago.
“Seeing him join Doncic once again would break Mavericks fans to the core, but this has seemed like a realistic option for months due to Gafford’s dynamic with Doncic, as well as the Lakers’ team needs,” wrote Weber. “Los Angeles has gotten great production out of Deandre Ayton, but bringing in Gafford would be a major upgrade over Jaxson Hayes.”
Weber also highlighted the strong bond between Gafford and Doncic, noting that Gafford expressed interest in teaming up with Doncic on Team Slovenia. While a trade to the Lakers may be ideal for both Gafford and the Lakers, it would be a tough blow for Mavericks fans.
### Mavericks Not Interested?
This season, Gafford is averaging 8.8 points and 4.4 rebounds but has become somewhat ineffectual on a Mavericks team lacking a true floor general. Dallas currently ranks 29th in offensive efficiency, a situation unlikely to improve until Kyrie Irving returns from his ACL injury.
On paper, trading Gafford makes sense for the Mavericks, given their front-court depth with Derek Lively II, Anthony Davis, and Dwight Powell—not to mention the size advantage on the wings provided by P.J. Washington and Cooper Flagg.
However, the Mavericks reportedly may not be willing to part with Gafford. Over the weekend, NBA insider Marc Stein dismissed rumors of a potential reunion between Doncic and Gafford, citing Lively’s knee injury as a key factor.
“External interest in Gafford is sure to surface, league sources say, but the Mavericks to this point have not entertained the idea of trading him,” Stein wrote on his Substack. “How could they, with Derek Lively II, their would-be center of the future, limited to just three games played thus far due to a knee sprain?”
As the trade deadline approaches, the Lakers’ pursuit of Gafford remains a storyline to watch, with potential implications for both teams and their fanbases.
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