The Los Angeles Lakers were off to an impressive start this season. However, the Purple and Gold then hit a wall and haven’t fully recovered ever since. They recently suffered back-to-back losses to the San Antonio Spurs and the Milwaukee Bucks, indicating there’s still a lot of work to do. Before they can emerge as true contenders, the Lakers must surround their new franchise cornerstone, Luka Doncic, with the right talent.

They could choose a potential frontcourt option that fans have been floating in mock trades: Daniel Gafford. But when someone asked NBA insider Dan Woike about the Mavericks’ potential move to LA, he dropped an interesting reply.

“The people I speak with find it hard to believe that Dallas is in a hurry to help the Lakers via trade,” Woike tweeted.

After all, it’s quite evident how things turned out the last time the two teams did business.

Nonetheless, if the Lakers’ front office still finds a way to land Gafford, he will surely be a great addition. The 27-year-old has been effective for the Mavericks this season. In 28 games, he has averaged nearly eight points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks while shooting 62.3% from the field.

Although he’s been dealing with injury setbacks, Gafford will, without a doubt, be someone the Purple & Gold could rotate with Deandre Ayton. Ayton can handle the offensive side and second-unit creation, while Gafford will naturally slot into a screen-setting defensive role that complements Luka Doncic.

Considering the Lakers want to be in win-now mode, capitalizing on a past Mavericks partnership that has worked wonders will be key. Jarred Vanderbilt, Dalton Knecht, and a lottery-protected first in 2031 should be enough to get the deal done.

But that would only make sense if the Mavericks are willing to trade. And while there might be no decision on Gafford’s future, the team is now forced to consider its options about his teammate.

The silver lining for the Mavericks amid the Anthony Davis fiasco

Anthony Davis has been the talk of the town for a while now. He recently suffered ligament damage in his left hand, which will force him to miss at least six weeks of action. If Davis needs surgery, then it will likely end his season. Despite that, he remains one of the top trade targets for teams that want to pivot into a win-now mode. The only reason the Mavericks wanted to trade Anthony Davis was to extract as much value as possible from that deal.

But with him out, they could just tank and draft another top talent to pair with their rookie superstar, Cooper Flagg, and build for the future. A healthy Kyrie Irving, Davis, and Flagg would be ready to win instantly. Bear in mind that the Mavericks also don’t control their 2027 and 2030 first-round picks.

While the February deadline is no longer a consideration after Anthony Davis’ latest injury, the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers would’ve been ideal fits for the NBA veteran. Simply because the two teams would give anything and everything to make a playoff push in 2026.

Meanwhile, the Milwaukee Bucks will have a tough time matching salaries. While the Atlanta Hawks have often been linked to Davis, it might not work out there as well. The Brooklyn Nets, who traded a premium to regain control of their 2025 and 2026 first-round picks for the express purpose of tanking, have nothing to lose next year. So, why not get Davis and maybe take a step towards progress and respectability?

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