The Dallas Mavericks are looking to add another piece to the puzzle. They can do this by picking up Daniel Gafford’s 3-year, nearly $60 million extension. The news first got out on Monday, confirmed by multiple sources. The news was first covered by ESPN, which highlighted Gafford as a key piece in the team’s frontcourt.
Daniel Gafford is becoming known as one of the most intimidating shot blockers in college basketball, and more than just having impressive numbers on the stat sheet. This last season he ranked in the top 10 for field goal percentage as a defender. That’s an incredible accomplishment, considering he faced down at least 800 shots. His versatility and defensive abilities to guard multiple positions allow him to be an elite tool in the Mavericks toolbox as they look to sharpen their competitive edge.
Along with his defense, Gafford is known offensively for his impressive contributions. As an elite lob threat and rim finisher, Smith’s versatility to score in a variety of ways should allay any concerns about his offensive bag, too. Gafford has an elite 71% career field goal percentage. Even after joining the league fulltime his rookie season in 2019-2020, he’s kept shooting at the highest efficiency. This is an incredible stat especially since it’s on the merit of at least 1,000 field goal attempts.
The Mavericks’ frontcourt is becoming one of the most intriguing in the league. They include Gafford, rookie sensation Dereck Lively II, and multi-time All-NBA big Anthony Davis. Gafford’s contract extension underscores how serious the team is making sure they have a really deep, talented core moving forward. They are committed to winning and competing at the highest levels.
If the Mavericks are planning to extend Gafford this is great preparation for that. Meanwhile, all attention turns to the next draft, where Cooper Flagg, no doubt, will be the No. 1 selection. The Mavericks’ calculated moves show their commitment to building a better roster and setting themselves up to win in the long-term.
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