The Dallas Mavericks traded for Daniel Gafford from the Washington Wizards just 11 months ago, and they have reaped the benefits of the deal with an NBA Finals run and a strong start this season.

Bleacher Report writer Grant Hughes gave the Mavs a “B” for their work on the trade.

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“We can’t go overboard with Dallas’ grade, even if Gafford has been a positive presence with the team and, like Washington, played a key role in a Finals run. Dereck Lively II is the Mavericks’ long-term answer in the middle, and Gafford’s 2024 postseason minutes coincided with a net-rating drop of 14.8 points per 100 possessions,” Hughes writes.

“That said, Gafford shot 84.6 percent from the field and suppressed opponent accuracy at the rim by 5.6 percent in the 2024 playoffs, topping Lively in that stat.”

Gafford as Lively’s backup is a great center rotation that should be able to get the Mavs through these next two seasons, but Dallas also earned some credit for the draft compensation part of the deal as well.

“Bonus points to Dallas for executing a 2028 pick swap with OKC that netted it a 2024 first-rounder, which ultimately got the Gafford deal done with Washington. It’s not easy to conjure a first-rounder out of thin air, but that’s essentially what the Mavs did,” Hughes writes.

It remains to be seen what the Mavs will be able to draw out of that deal in the future, but things are so far so good in Dallas.

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