Lakers’ Rob Pelinka monitoring another trade with Mavs’ Nico Harrison for lob threat to pair with Luka Doncic

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic is proving to be the exact cornerstone Rob Pelinka invested so heavily in to take over LeBron James’ mantle as franchise player. Averaging 40 points, 11 rebounds, and nine assists, Doncic has perhaps been the best player in the league.

To give him a true lob threat, since Deandre Ayton doesn’t have the best hands finishing around the rim, the Lakers' front office is reportedly eyeing Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford. The 27-year-old Arkansas native is averaging 12 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.7 blocks, and 1.3 steals for a struggling Mavs team that was 2-6 entering Friday night.

ClutchPoints’ Bret Siegel reports that Los Angeles isn’t alone in registering interest in the former Razorbacks star.

“One quick, small bit of intel revolves around the Dallas Mavericks' slow start leading to teams wondering if they make roster changes before the trade deadline,” Siegel prefaced before saying, “Several teams continue to monitor Daniel Gafford, including the Los Angeles Lakers, sources told.”

With Dallas not knowing what their final product is going to look like until late in the season, with Kyrie Irving missing most of the season due to an ACL tear, Nico Harrison may be hesitant to ship off any veterans. Then again, if the Mavs lose enough, Irving might not make his return until next season.

How Dallas recovers from a poor start will determine their direction by the February 5 trade deadline. It’s tempting to start over and build around the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA draft, Cooper Flagg, but there’s enough talent around him now, with Anthony Davis, Gafford, P.J. Washington, and the hot-shooting Max Christie, to make a run to a Play-In seed.

Perhaps firing Jason Kidd could be the answer instead of shaking up the roster. Kidd just signed an extension, but he wouldn’t be the first coach to be let go with several years left on his contract.

Is that the direction Harrison wants to take the Mavs? That’ll be the question he faces. Well, one of several, another being whether or not he wants to do business with Pelinka again. The Luka-AD trade has seen the Lakers become clear early winners.