The Boston Celtics have been one of the league’s biggest success stories this season, outperforming expectations and establishing themselves as a legitimate title contender. But with the NBA trade deadline fast approaching, the front office is staring down a pivotal decision: ride the current momentum and trust the roster as-is, or make a calculated push to bolster the team’s depth-particularly in the frontcourt-and raise their championship ceiling.
If the Celtics decide to be buyers, the target is clear: help at the center position. Neemias Queta has stepped up admirably in a starting role, and Luka Garza has given them more than they bargained for. Still, when you’re eyeing a deep playoff run, especially in an Eastern Conference that feels wide open, depth and reliability in the paint become non-negotiable.
Enter Daniel Gafford.
The 27-year-old big man from Dallas has surfaced as a realistic trade target, and for good reason. The Mavericks are flush with frontcourt options and aren’t exactly trending toward contention, which opens the door for Gafford to be moved.
For Boston, this is the kind of move that could solidify the rotation without blowing up the roster or the future. Gafford’s name doesn’t carry the star power of some other deadline chatter, but his game checks a lot of boxes.
Let’s break it down.
In a potential trade scenario, the Celtics would send Sam Hauser, Baylor Scheierman, and a first-round pick to Dallas in exchange for Gafford. The details on that pick-year and protections-would likely be fluid, depending on how both teams value the assets. But the core structure makes sense for both sides.
Gafford is coming off a strong stretch with the Mavericks, where he played a key role in their run to the NBA Finals-ironically, a series they lost to these very Celtics. That playoff run earned him a three-year, $54 million extension, which kicks in next season. While that’s not a bargain-bin deal, it’s a manageable number for a starting-caliber center who impacts both ends of the floor.
Offensively, Gafford is a throwback in the best way. He’s not stretching the floor or creating off the dribble, but he’s elite at what he does: finishing around the rim, crashing the offensive glass, and being a vertical lob threat.
His career 71.5% True Shooting is no fluke-he plays within his role, and he plays it well. If he’s catching the ball near the basket, chances are it’s going through the net.
Defensively, he’s not a bruiser in the mold of a traditional big, but he holds his own. Gafford is a solid rim protector with the mobility to switch or play alongside another big if needed. He brings energy, timing, and enough length to alter shots and anchor a second unit-or even close games depending on matchups.
With Ivica Zubac reportedly off the trade market, Gafford might be the best available center ahead of the deadline. He doesn’t have the name recognition of some bigger trade targets, but for a team like Boston-one that’s already operating at a high level-he could be the kind of under-the-radar addition that pays off in May and June.
Of course, losing Sam Hauser would sting. He’s been a reliable shooter and a locker room favorite.
But when you’re this close to a championship window, you make the move that fills the bigger need. And right now, that’s a dependable, two-way big who can give you playoff minutes.
Boston doesn’t need a roster overhaul. They just need one more piece to round out an already dangerous team. Gafford might be that piece.