With Brook Lopez, Bobby Portis and Jericho Sims all eligible to hit free agency this coming summer, the Milwaukee Bucks could be due for a makeover at center soon. A player who could be available is Dallas Mavericks big man Daniel Gafford, who might be the odd man out in the frontcourt after the team landed the first overall pick in the NBA Draft, which will be used on Duke's Cooper Flagg.
Gafford has one more year on his contract entering this offseason, and he will be on the hunt for an extension to keep him happy. Per HoopsHype's Michael Scotto, if Gafford and Dallas do not agree on an extension, the big man will be a trade candidate to monitor. That, paired with the Mavericks looking to make room for Flagg, should have Gafford firmly on Milwaukee's offseason trade radar.
Gafford isn't a perfect fit, but he could help the Bucks
For many years, the Milwaukee Bucks have targeted floor spacing big men, such as Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis, to put around Giannis Antetokounmpo to give him adequate spacing offensively. While the formula works, the team has often sacrificed athleticism and mobility in the process. These days, you need those things at the center spot to thrive.
Top decision-maker Jon Horst understood this last season by bringing in Jericho Sims, a high-flying center with just one 3-point attempt in his career. Sims didn't space the floor, but he brought energy with his rebounding, lob dunks and switchable defense. Becoming younger and more athletic will be a necessity for Milwaukee this offseason, and Gafford would help.
The 26-year-old is coming off one of his best seasons yet, averaging 6.8 rebounds, 1.8 blocks and 1.4 assists to go with a career-best 12.3 points per contest. Defensively, Gafford is a switchable big man who can be a real obstacle at the hoop for opponents. If the Milwaukee Bucks lose Lopez, they need another high-end shot-blocker, especially if they are athletic.
Financially, Gafford is on the books for $14.3 million next season. The Milwaukee Bucks could present a handful of different options to Dallas. However, if they tried to include Kyle Kumza and his salary, an objective they will likely explore in countless scenarios this summer, the Bucks would likely have to rope in another team, as the Mavericks are looking to shed bodies in the frontcourt, not swap them.
Gafford isn't publicly available right now, but the Milwaukee Bucks should be keeping tabs on the situation as summer nears.
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