The New Orleans Pelicans still have room to make a move, and one frontcourt name that fits the conversation is Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford.
New Orleans has been hunting for the right deal, and waiting on other moves to develop has already kept them from landing some of the bigger targets. Even so, there are still useful options available, and the trade market has always looked like the place where the Pelicans were most likely to find value after entering free agency with plenty of money to work with.
The front court remains a logical area to attack. Derik Queen and Yves Missi give the Pelicans a promising young pairing, but last season made it clear they are not ready to carry the load by themselves just yet. Zion Williamson complicates the fit, and the team also moved on from its only real enforcer in Kevon Looney.
That is why a center like Gafford stands out. Finding the right one could be the piece that helps push this group toward the playoff roster it has long looked capable of becoming.
Gafford has recently emerged as a possible trade candidate in Dallas. The Mavericks are getting healthier with Kyrie Irving returning, and they are also looking ahead to the Cooper Flagg era. At 28 next year and carrying nearly $20 million on his deal, Gafford is the kind of player Dallas could decide is movable.
That age and contract line up with what New Orleans appears to be building. Gafford fits the same window as Trey Murphy, Herbert Jones and Williamson, giving the Pelicans a core that could stay together for the next couple of seasons. He would also fit alongside Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen if everything breaks the right way.
Last season, Gafford averaged 9.5 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists while shooting 65.5% from the field and 68.3% from the line. The production dipped a bit, which may be part of why Dallas is open to moving him.
Even with that drop, he still brings the kind of profile New Orleans needs. He scores efficiently, blocks shots and rebounds well. Ideally, the Pelicans would also add more floor spacing at center, but they could work around that if the rest of the roster comes together.
For now, a deal could be built around Jordan Hawkins and draft capital, though New Orleans would still need to make a few more money-related moves before anything is finalized. From a basketball standpoint, though, Gafford makes a lot of sense for the Pelicans.
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