The Mavericks brought in Daniel Gafford at the 2024 trade deadline to fill that exact role. And the fit was so seamless with Dončić that Dallas was jostling with the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals just a few months later.

In the aftermath of an underwhelming playoff run, the Los Angeles Lakers are determined to improve by any means necessary. According to ESPN's Tim MacMahon, one trade target this summer is Mavericks big man Daniel Gafford, who is entering the final year of his contract.

That was the logic behind a trade proposal from ESPN's Tim McMahon on the Friday, May 2 edition of the "Brian Windhorst & the Hoop Collective" podcast, when McMahon suggested the Lakers pursue a second consecutive deal with the Dallas Mavericks after trading Anthony Davis for Doncic back in February.