Sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania on Monday that Dallas Mavericks Center Daniel Gafford intends to sign a three-year contract worth nearly $60 million.
Mavericks officials and Gafford agents, Mike George and Shy Saee of Klutch Sports, negotiated a new deal before 2028-29.
Last season, Gaford averaged a career-high 12.3 points with the Mavericks
Gafford, who will be 27 in October, will enter his three-year final season of his $40.18 million contract. The 6-foot-10 big man signed the deal with the Washington Wizards in October 2021. He will make about $14 million next season before the extension begins.
Gafford averaged a career-high 12.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.9 blocks and 21.5 minutes of games in 57 games last season, while shooting 70.2% and free-range shooting percentage of 68.9%.
According to basketball reference, Gafford also has an average career-high usage rate of 19.5%. He blocked (102) (102) and third with offensive rating (137.4).
Gafford’s 71% professional goal-scoring rate is the best in the NBA (based on the lowest shot-scoring attempt per second spectrum) since he entered the league in 2019-2020.
Dwight Powell exercises his $4 million player option
The move also took place a few days, with big Dwight Powell getting a $4 million player option for the 2025-26 season in NBA insider Marc Stein. Powell must go through the third year of his $12 million contract with the Mavericks before the 2023-24 season.
Powell turns 34 on July 20 and will return to Season 12 with Dallas. The Stanford product was originally drafted by the Charlotte Hornets and eventually traded to the Boston Celtics.
However, Powell was released to the Mavericks in his 2014-15 rookie season. Since then, he has played in 700 professional regular season games (254 games) and has played in 44 playoff games for the team.
In 55 games in Dallas this season, Powell averaged a career-low 2.1 points, 2.1 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 10 minutes of play, while shooting 68.9% from the field and 65.1% from the field at the foul line.
Unless any injuries, Powell, who is 6-foot-10, will currently play in front and back in Anthony Davis, Derek Lively II and Gafford.
Mavericks have exceeded the luxury tax, two aprons
The reward for winning the first pick is the increase in Mavericks’ salary next season. Including Kyrie Irving’s $43 million player option and 2025 first-round draft pick, Dallas’ luxury tax and two-piece apron are priced at $17 million. Irving must choose his contract by June 24.
According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, if they are the apron team next season, they are not allowed to use any of its four trade exceptions ($11 million, $7 million, $4.3 million and $2.1 million).
If any exceptions are used between now and June 30, the first apron is triggered in 2025-26. If the Mavericks complete the 2025-26 season with taxes, they will be the repeater tax team for 2026-27.
Additionally, the Mavericks have three tradeable first and two seconds. Dallas includes a June lottery pick that can play the Lakers’ 2029 unprotected person in 2031. Dallas also has the ability to exchange first place in 2026, 2031 and 2032.
The 2025 NBA Draft is Wednesday and Thursday.
