MAVS NEWS:

[KillerLeft]

It would be great to keep both Gafford and PJ but thinking about asset management and playoff rotations, it would seem Gafford is the odd man out, especially since DAL is clearly short on ball handlers. I think you can find a servicable backup center to soak up regular season minutes.

For me, the context with Gafford is completely different than anyone else on the roster. 

1) Whether he wants "starter money" or not, he's GOING to get paid more than ANY third best player at his position on a team should, and that's what he is here. Period. 

2) Yes, he's an immense help in terms of regular season depth, but he's a negative in the playoffs, and that would be true even if he was their best center, which he isn't. 

3) He's a pick and roll big in a league where 2/3 of the teams are looking for those, but there's mounting evidence that the Mavericks are moving away from that style (maybe). 

4) His value is very, very likely at the highest it will ever be. His collaboration with Luka has made the league hyper aware of what he can bring on offense, but he won't look like that during the rest of his time here, unless we think a deal for Haliburton or Brunson is coming this summer (lol). Meanwhile, he's getting slower on defense with each passing week. I think even by the trade deadline, his value will have cooled quite a bit, personally, especially once he's buried in the rotation. 

I always get accused of being anti-Gafford, but I actually think he's a good player to have in the right situation. I just don't think backing up Davis AND Lively on a team with no pick and roll master is that situation, particularly when the team is short an important starter and starting to feel the pressure of an out of whack salary structure. 

I think that, even if they keep him...even if they EXTEND or RE-SIGN him, Gafford won't make it to the end of his next deal here, so to me it makes all the sense in the world to use him as an asset to reposition the roster in a more flexible way.