Lakers predicted to land $40M Center in massive trade

The NBA trade deadline is just weeks away, and teams are starting to position themselves to make a splash. One team expected to be very active before the deadline is the Los Angeles Lakers.

Los Angeles has competed well this year, but is at least one step away from being truly dangerous in the Western Conference. But in this new trade scenario, the Lakers get the missing piece and round out their roster in form.

The trade would be between the Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks, who land center Daniel Gafford in Los Angeles. By means of Spotrac trading machinean agreement could look like this:

The Lakers receive: Daniel Gafford

Mavericks receive: Gabe Vincent, Jaxson Hayes, a 2025 second-round pick and a 2027 second-round pick

If this deal were on the table, the Lakers would likely be running to the phone to make it happen. Gafford could really help Los Angeles this season and would give them another big to use in the front court.

Dallas may be hesitant to trade with the Lakers, but if Los Angeles added a first-round pick, even a protected one, a deal could be done. The Mavericks value Gafford, but he appears to be one of the more expendable players on the roster, likely because they don’t want to part with PJ Washington.

Gafford does all the little things well and could serve the Lakers greatly. The veteran center is slated to earn $13.3 million this season and $14.3 million next year.

His contract would fit nicely in the Lakers’ salary cap and could give them some flexibility down the stretch. It’s a team-friendly deal for a player who could play a big role during the season.

For the year, Gafford has averaged 11.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.4 blocks per game. Gafford doesn’t space the floor, but having him on the court could help open up the Lakers with Davis.

Davis did not have to stay within the painted area and could instead work on the perimeter. Gafford could man the middle, and he would give Los Angeles one of the best frontcourt duos in the NBA.

It remains to be seen if Dallas would trade Gafford at all, but for the right price, any player is likely available. This trade could change the trajectory of the Lakers’ season and vault them more toward true contention in the West.

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