Trade & FA 2025-26: Free Agency Starts 5pm CST/6pm EST

[omahen]

FIFY.

Yep that should be the price. Being available on a well priced contract is a plus, not a minus. Do you hear the contradiction in your words when Reaves makes even less? 

LAL badly needs what Gaff offers. They have a massive hole at C. To get him, they would have to provide what Mavs need, rather than a random pile of meh that has no real value to DAL. If they want someone less costly, they can always go get another Jaxson Hayes or the like that isn't even usable.

I can understand why LAL fans like you think you can get great value for bargain prices from DAL, since that absurdly one-sided Luka deal. But (hopefully) that weird giveaway approach is over. Now you have to pay up to get what you need, just like other teams do.

Gafford is not the only center out there. While Lakers do need a center, I doubt they will spend all of their assets on someone like Gafford (expiring, non star) because that will not make them any more of a contender as they are now while closing paths to perhaps make them a contender. I can understand why Mavs fans like you get frustrated by Mavs front office and why a new deal between the two teams is highly unlikely, as Mavs fans like you would never accept it, unless it is hugely in favor for Mavs. I will be hugely surprised if Lakers would be prepared to do that.