The Los Angeles Lakers should trade for Daniel Gafford to be Deandre Ayton’s replacement. Gafford was the Mavericks' starting center when Luka Doncic led Dallas to the NBA Finals in 2024. The 6’10 big man was acquired midseason and played a key role in their playoff run. He is exactly the type of center Doncic wants in Los Angeles, and their history should allow them to quickly get back their pick-and-roll chemistry.
The Lakers signed Ayton off the buyout market, but he is not a long-term option next to Luka. His inconsistent effort, coupled with head-scratching moments on defense, makes it difficult to chase a championship. LA was outscored by 34 points in Ayton’s 285 playoff minutes this year, and the big man’s playing time decreased throughout the second-round series against the Thunder. Ayton is not the answer.
He has an $8.1 million player option, but that shouldn’t matter. The Lakers should trade Ayton even if he opts in. They want to build a serious title contender around Luka, which means upgrading at the five and adding more overall talent. There is no player better to target than the Mavs starting center from their NBA Finals run.
Lakers should look to replace Deandre Ayton with Daniel Gafford
Dallas is taking a slow approach to building around Cooper Flagg. They plan to upgrade their roster with the ninth overall pick and grow organically. It could put several members on the 2024 Mavericks on the trade block, including PJ Washington and Gafford. Teams are lining up to steal Kyrie Irving, who may also be on the move.
Dallas struggled to find a viable starting point guard this season, but Gafford still scored 1.23 points per possession as a roll man. It was 1.36 in 2024 after the deadline trade. Luka loves to throw lobs and get his big man easy buckets around the rim. Gafford doesn’t miss those.
The 27-year-old averaged 2.1 blocks per game in 2024 and 1.8 the following year. He is significantly more engaged around the rim after a few easy buckets. Gafford would have no complaints about reuniting with Doncic if given the chance.
The 6’10 big man still has three years and $54.3 million left on his contract. He is in his prime and ready to compete for a championship. The Lakers may be able to dump Jarred Vanderbilt’s contract on the rebuilding Mavericks to help make the math work. That alone would make this deal worth it.
Expect Ayton to be gone before the start of the 2026-27 season. Nobody knows what to expect from him. There are some nights where DA looks like a top ten center in the NBA and others where he doesn’t belong on the floor. A serious contender cannot have that inconsistency.
The Los Angeles Lakers should look to trade for Daniel Gafford to be Luka Doncic’s pick-and-roll partner. He would be an upgrade over Deandre Ayton as a roll man, rim protector, and overall defender. The Mavs won’t be eager to make another deal with LA, but Masai Ujiri is calling the shots in Dallas now. He will look for the best deal for Gafford, and the Lakers would love to reunite the big man with Luka. Do not rule it out.
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