The Lakers’ move to bring in Walker Kessler reshaped one frontcourt, but the ripple effect may be felt most in Dallas. Los Angeles then lost Jaxson Hayes, who signed with the Utah Jazz on a two-year deal, according to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon. That matters for the Mavericks because Hayes had been a teammate Luka Doncic liked, and his departure closes off a path Dallas had been eyeing for Daniel Gafford.
Hayes gave the Lakers real rotation value last season, averaging 7.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 0.8 blocks per game off the bench. JJ Redick also leaned on him in the playoffs, and over the last three years his motor, energy and athleticism made him a steady part of the mix. Doncic will miss that former pick-and-roll partner.
For Dallas, the bigger issue is what Hayes going to Utah means for Gafford. The Jazz no longer look like a team that needs to chase him aggressively in a trade, which takes away one of the most logical landing spots the Mavericks had for the big man. Dallas has been shopping Gafford for a while, but nothing has materialized, even after multiple rounds of rumors over the years since he was acquired in 2024.
The case for moving him has only gotten stronger. Dallas traded for Santi Aldama on Wednesday, and then used a lottery pick to draft Morez Johnson Jr., which only complicates Gafford’s long-term fit.
He’ll turn 28 before next season begins, and while he was a strong partner for Doncic in the pick-and-roll, he doesn’t line up with Cooper Flagg’s timeline. Health has also been an issue for the former Arkansas Razorback over the last two seasons, making this offseason look like the right window to deal him for younger help and future draft capital.
Utah had looked like the cleanest fit. After trading Kessler, the Jazz seemed poised to need another big to anchor the paint, and they also had a pile of draft assets after the Kessler sign-and-trade. Dallas could have called about players such as Isaiah Collier and Brice Sensabaugh, along with picks, while using Gafford to help fill the void left by their former franchise center.
Instead, Utah went with Hayes and now has an inside pairing of Jusuf Nurkic and Hayes. That means they no longer need Gafford, even though he would have been a clear upgrade over either player. For the Mavericks, the search for a trade partner goes on.
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Mavericks Fans Just Got Another Sign This Roster Reset Is Real
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Aldamas profile is exactly why this stood out to fans who had been waiting for Dallas to use its flexibility on a frontcourt upgrade. He averaged 14.0 points and 6.7 rebounds last season and shot 35 percent from three-point range, numbers that suggest a player who can stretch the floor without disappearing around the basket. The larger question now is how the Mavericks plan to build on this addition, and whether this was the first step in a bigger frontcourt overhaul. [Read more 🡒]