Trade & Free Agency 2026/2027

[KillerLeft]

Speaking of Trade & Free Agency 2026/2027, we were working through the possible Gafford teams on Discord earlier and came up with these...

CHA: Daniel Gafford
DAL: Josh Green (expiring) + Pick #18

ATL: Daniel Gafford
DAL: Corey Kispert + Pick #23

LAL: Daniel Gafford
DAL: Jake LaRavia (expiring) + Dalton Knecht (expiring) + Pick #25

TOR: Daniel Gafford
DAL: Jakob Poeltl + Pick #19 + Future FRP


I can't think of any other teams that have expressed interest in trading for Gafford. I have them in order of preference for me.

I hated Gafford's fit here last season and think he should have been sign-and-traded last summer. Now that we're here, I suppose I'd really want to hear the coach's new plan for how the team will play, because there's a world in which he might fit here again, offensively. However, on the defensive end I struggle to see how he'll ever be a positive in the playoffs. That would be fine if he weren't paid so much all of a sudden, but at his extension salary level, you really can't afford to carry him as a regular season only piece. Then again, I doubt the Mavs will have to worry about such a distinction next season. 

In the end, balancing all factors, I suppose I'd be in favor of any of the deals above that include expiring contracts (minimal commitment/deadline ammo). Under NO circumstances do I want any part of Poeltl. I mean, I guess there's a number of future picks that could convince me, but one ain't that number.