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The Los Angeles Lakers could use some talented center depth to bring their team to the next level.
Luka Doncic's former Dallas Mavericks teammate could be the answer in a trade.
ESPN's Zach Kram published a new idea for these teams to make another deal, suggesting in a new article on Tuesday that the Lakers should trade for Daniel Gafford from the Mavs.
The return cost pitched by Kram: Jarred Vanderbilt, Dalton Knecht and the 25th pick in this year's draft.
"He can rejoin Luka Doncic and thrive once more as a pick-and-roll partner and rim-running threat," Kram writes. "This deal should be a no-brainer for the Lakers, as they'd address their glaring hole at the center position -- which would still exist even if Deandre Ayton exercised his option for next season -- with a player who's a proven fit next to Doncic. Gafford would certainly help the Lakers more next season than any rookie they could draft with the No. 25 pick."
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The Mavs have both Gafford and Dereck Lively II, and moving on from Gafford could help them from a cap perspective.
"On the other side, Dallas lost a 2028 pick swap when it acquired Gafford at the 2024 trade deadline, but it could recoup some of that value and add another young player here," Kram writes. "The Mavericks also would clear future cap space, with Gafford signed for more money and years (through the 2028-29 season) than Vanderbilt."
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Doncic would certainly feel comfortable playing with Gafford, considering that they made it all the way to an NBA Finals together.
The Lakers got a lot of solid moments out of Deandre Ayton in 2025-26, but there are moments where Ayton's production feels a bit like empty calories.
Gafford would add a new dimension in Los Angeles, if the Mavs would even dare to do another trade with the Lakers.
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