The injury-riddled Dallas Mavericks received more bad news on Tuesday. As they hosted the Boston Celtics at American Airlines Center, they lost yet another crucial player to injury. Daniel Gafford left for the locker room in the first half with what appeared to be a right ankle injury.

Gafford held his ankle as he sat on the floor, wailing in pain, and was later helped to the locker room. He played 13 minutes, scoring four points and five rebounds before exiting. Naji Marshall replaced him on the court. There was no immediate word from the team on his injury.

Ankle injuries have been a big problem for Gafford. He has been dealing with ankle issues since the offseason and even missed game time because of them.

However, Gafford didn’t stay out for very long. He returned to the lineup with just over five minutes remaining in the third quarter. The Mavericks center played 25 minutes in the 110-100 loss to the Celtics and finished the game with 10 points, 12 rebounds, and 2 blocks.

Despite his return to the court, the trouble might not be over for the Mavericks. After the game, the center was seen walking gingerly back to the locker room with his right shoe off, favoring the same leg he had injured earlier.

Gafford’s injury comes at a time when multiple teams have shown interest in him, right before the trade deadline.

Mavericks exploring trade options for Daniel Gafford

Naji Marshall and Daniel Gafford are two players generating massive interest from teams across the league. According to Marc Stein, the Mavericks’ front office has shown reluctance to trade Marshall, but they are open to exploring options for Gafford, Klay Thompson, and D’Angelo Russell.

Gafford has been crucial to the team since he arrived from Washington in 2024. He was a big part of the Mavericks’ success when they reached the NBA Finals two years ago. According to Evan Sidery, multiple teams, including the Celtics, red-hot Charlotte Hornets, Indiana Pacers, and the Toronto Raptors, have shown interest in the big man. A few days ago, the Los Angeles Lakers were also reportedly exploring the possibility of pairing Gafford with Luka Doncic.

However, given his ankle issue, the teams remain unsure about Gafford’s season-long availability.

Gafford, who is in the first year of a three-year, $54 million contract, missed 25 games last season. He has already missed 16 games this season. However, he can be a valuable addition to any team and handle a heavy workload. The 27-year-old is averaging 8.0 points and 6.4 rebounds.

What teams offer the Mavericks in return will also be a major consideration.

The Lakers could move Gabe Vincent’s contract. Dalton Knecht could also be a deal sweetener should the Mavericks want a future pick-heavy deal.