Daniel Gafford may be about to add a new wrinkle to his game, and the Mavericks are banking on it helping their offense breathe a little easier.
Under Dusty May, Dallas is expected to lean into a more varied attack, and one of the boldest ideas in the mix is asking centers to stretch the floor. That includes Gafford, who has taken just one three-pointer in his seven-year career.
It’s a big shift on paper, but not one May is approaching blindly. He had success with the concept at Michigan, where Aday Mara and Morez Johnson Jr. were given the green light to fire when the looks were there.
Gafford, for his part, sounds ready for the challenge.
“The first couple of misses, I think I'll knock the rust off and be able to knock a couple of shots down. I'm looking forward to it," Gafford said after practice on Friday. "They're putting a lot of faith in me to be able to take those shots, so it's only right that I do the same for myself.”
Daniel Gafford on adding 3s: “The first couple of misses I think I'll knock the rust off and be able to knock a couple of shots down. I'm looking forward to it. They're putting a lot of faith in me to be able to take those shots, so it's only right that I do the same for myself.” pic.twitter.com/X0qYJ2CxxO
There’s not much of a track record here, but the shot itself doesn’t look out of place in practice. Still, last season’s shot profile tells the real story: of Gafford’s 316 attempts, 268 came from within five feet of the rim. That’s a player built to live at the basket, not around the arc.
Even so, the Mavericks may not need him to become a volume shooter. The idea is simpler than that: take the open one when it’s there.
That makes sense when you look at Dallas’ top-end talent. Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving are both at their best when attacking the paint, and pairing them with a center who can pop out occasionally changes the geometry. Instead of planting another body in the lane, Gafford’s presence beyond the arc could force a defense to hesitate for just a beat - and that’s enough to help ball-handlers get downhill.
No one is expecting Gafford to suddenly turn into a stretch big. He’s still most dangerous rolling hard to the rim and cleaning up misses on the offensive glass. But if he can knock down a couple and keep defenders honest, it could be a useful piece in an offense built to play faster and create more space.
In Other News...
Santi Aldama Could Be More Important To Dallas Than Fans Realize
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What makes his early days with the team worth watching is the balance between what Dallas hopes he can eventually add and the fact that he is still working back into rhythm. The Mavericks are managing his recovery carefully in camp, and his availability will remain a talking point as they figure out how quickly he can become part of their rotation plans. For a team that values versatility, Aldama is one of those additions whose impact may not show up right away, but could matter more once the season gets rolling. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Get An Early Test Against A Rockets Team Loaded With Options
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For Dallas, the bigger value may come in the information it collects than the result itself. Dusty May framed the matchup as a chance to learn, which fits a preseason environment where the focus is on fit, health and combinations rather than the final score, especially against a Rockets group with plenty to sort through before the games begin to matter. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Are Betting On Daniel Gafford To Fix A Real Problem
Dallas spent much of last season wrestling with its 3-point shooting, and the new direction under Dusty May is built around finding easier offense from a few different places. Kyrie Irvings return should help stabilize the halfcourt, newcomer Sergio De Larrea is in the mix as another source of support, and the Mavericks are clearly looking for more than just a better shot diet from their guards and wings.
One of the more interesting pieces of that plan centers on Daniel Gafford, who is expected to expand his range and become a little more willing to let it fly. Gafford and May are aligned on the idea, which adds another layer to a season that already figures to ask more of Dallas frontcourt, not just around the rim but in ways that could make the entire offense less predictable. [Read more 🡒]