2024-25 Mavericks Player Cards: Daniel Gafford

Starting or bench role: what really matters is growth

Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images

Daniel Gafford is the fifth player we're analyzing in this series. Like P.J. Washington, he joined the Mavericks midway through last season, resulting in a smaller sample size for evaluation. This only adds to the excitement of watching the athletic 6-foot-10 big man rattle the rims throughout a full season in his second year with Dallas.

One of my key questions about the Mavericks’ rotation heading into the season is who will be the starting center on opening night. Regardless of who secures that role, the Mavericks will face a pleasant 'problem.' Transitioning from Dwight Powell and JaVale McGee just two seasons ago, and witnessing Maxi Kleber start at the five on opening night last season, to a full season with Derrick Lively II and Gafford represents a drastic improvement, no matter how their minutes are distributed.

For Gafford, the key question isn’t whether he’s starting or coming off the bench; rather, it's how close to a finished product we are seeing with the 25-year-old (who will turn 26 on October 1) Arkansas native. This is where the main focus and the most intriguing part of this analysis lies.

2023-24 key stats: 29 games played, 21 games started | 21.5 minutes, 11.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.9 blocks per game | 78.0 percent field goal (Note: These are Gafford’s 2023-24 stats with the Mavericks).

Projected role in 2023-24: Starting center on opening night, but eventually transitioning to a backup role. See early August rotation analysis for more.