Daniel Gafford is key to Dallas Mavericks' ambitions

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Gafford's arrival injects a much-welcomed internal punch. His activity and athleticism are the perfect complement to Dallas' playmaker.
His shot-blocking ability and defensive instincts have the potential to strengthen the Texas defense.
Both teams are brutal, but defensive discipline will be crucial to their future prospects in Dallas.

The Dallas Mavericks have already undergone several roster changes since drafting Slovenian phenom Luka Doncic six years ago. Dallas has experimented with different types of centers with Doncic during their run to the 2022 Western Conference Finals, from Latvian Unicorns to small-ball lineups.

The addition of explosive rim runner Daniel Gafford adds options to the Texas roster. It is a very necessary element to realize their noble aspirations. The Mavericks are currently 12-6 since the trade for the sky-shattering big man, and there is still room for growth.

nail and hammer

Gafford's verticality is the perfect complement to Dallas' star

It makes sense for Dallas to center their offense around Doncic's pick-and-roll mastery, and pairing him with a dynamic lob threat has been a focus of their roster construction over the past nine months. Ta. Dallas sorely missed the thunderous punch and interior presence inherent in such a profile. In Gafford, the Texas franchise may have registered the NBA's premier lob target.

Less than 20 games after first wearing a Maverick uniform, Gafford has already tied Doncic for 72 points, most of which came from standout dunks. Gafford's incredible 7-foot-2-inch wingspan and incredible leaping ability allow the former Razorback to have a surprisingly large catch radius on lob passes. The formula is very simple. If he throws the ball up to the rim, Gafford will hammer it away.

There's no doubt that playing with Dallas' high-level playmakers has increased Gafford's productivity. But it's equally important to recognize that it's the big man's cognitive aptitude that perfectly frames the Mavericks' power play. Whether rolling hard toward the rim or lurking around the dunker spot, Gafford always displays a keen understanding of the spacing and timing of his movements.

His recent streak of 34 consecutive no-miss field goals, which puts him just two shy of Wilt's record, not only highlights the obvious synergy between him and Dallas' Slovenian Saban, but also sets, slips, and more. It emphasized his sense of the game in terms of method. , and time screen. He currently averages about six screen assists per game, which ranks in the 96th percentile in the league.

Additionally, Gafford's gravity as a roller draws the defense's attention, freeing up perimeter players and further developing Dallas' drive and kick movements. The Mavs haven't been able to effectively capitalize on that gap yet, but the quality of his looks suggests his shooting numbers will pick up soon. His rim-running profile also fits with the upbeat tempo Dallas is implementing this year.

Gafford helps strengthen Mavs defense

Gafford helps with Dallas' defensive woes in the perimeter.

The 2019 draftee is also one of the most underrated shot blockers in the league. With timely rotations from the weak side to set up two-foot leaps and swallow attempts at the rim, Dallas' new starting center consistently erases opponents' advantages. He has blocked 4.5 percent of all attempts since becoming a Maverick, which is third-best among all centers in the league.

A defensive anchor with the awareness needed to break through the defensive limitations of Dallas' backcourt is exactly what they need to keep their postseason hopes alive. Dallas is currently allowing 113.3 points per 100 possessions with Gafford in the game, which would rank eighth in the league this season.

Gafford has always been a very impactful rim protector statistically, although Dallas' small sample size doesn't inform the assumption. Last season, when Gafford contested shots at the rim, opponents shot 10.1% worse than expected. That was better than notable players like Rudy Gobert, Anthony Davis, and Myles Turner.

To reach his full defensive potential, Gafford will need to be more disciplined in contests. He has great skills and great tools, but he has a reckless personality that will try anything. His foul rate of 5.3 percent ranks in the 14th percentile for his position, and these foul troubles clearly limit his expansion as a starting center.

I'm worried about Gafford's rebound.

Gafford has given up on the second chances he creates.

No evaluation of Gafford's game would be complete without acknowledging his activity on the glass. At 6-foot-10 with a stocky frame, long arms, and tremendous vertical movement, Gafford has the ideal size to dominate on the offensive glass.

Dallas' new starting center consistently shows great timing on his first jump and enjoys rising through contact. In the nearly 300 possessions with Gafford on the floor, Dallas has grabbed over 7.3 offensive rebounds per 100 possessions, and those swings rank in the 96th percentile for his position.

Given his contributions to the offense, it's reasonable to think Gafford will improve Dallas' chances by improving his ability to compete for possession. But Gafford tends to allow second chances on defense as much as he creates on offense.

For the past few seasons, the 25-year-old has been one of the worst defensive rebounding centers in the league. Gafford's weaknesses are that he easily walks away when his back is turned and his spatial awareness is questionable. Overcommitment is an epidemic, so he tends to get into contests when it's not necessarily warranted, and aggressively leads the team if no one can slide and tag his players. I'll put you at risk.

Simply put, Daniel's defensive rebounding fundamentals still have a lot of room for improvement. A lack of solid rebounders appears to be a structural problem for Dallas this season, allowing opponents to rebound 28.1 percent of their own mistakes, fifth-worst in the league. Daniel Gafford and the Mavs will have to find a solution to this pressing concern if he is to fulfill his intriguing potential.

Mavericks, less is more for Gafford

Gafford will need to stop drinking if he is to completely lift Dallas' ceiling.

Daniel Gafford is a combination of out-of-this-world athleticism and youthful energy that can make the hardwood flex beneath his feet as he powers up to catch a lob. His verticality makes Dallas' playoff-qualified offense even better and has the potential to compensate for the team's most glaring defensive issues.

For Gafford and the Mavs, simplicity will be the ultimate sophistication. The offense starts with securing defensive rebounds, and the league's best rim protectors aren't looking to contest every shot. Only those who can guarantee it.

Unless otherwise noted, all statistics used here are taken from NBA.com, cleaningtheglass.com, dunksandthrees.com, basketball-reference.com, pbpstats.com, bball-index.com.