The Dallas Mavericks brought out their checkbook to keep Daniel Gafford in Texas.
Several reporters confirmed Monday that Gafford and the Mavericks have agreed to a three-year contract extension. But there have been conflicting reports about the deal’s exact monetary value.
ESPN’s Shams Charania broke the contract news, pegging the deal to be worth “nearly $60 million.” But NBA reporter Marc Stein reported the extension’s value to be at $54 million over three years.
Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford intends to sign a three-year contract extension worth nearly $60 million, sources tell ESPN. Mavericks officials and Gafford's agents, Mike George and Shy Saee of Klutch Sports, negotiated the new deal through 2028-29. pic.twitter.com/KinN3vFri6
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 23, 2025
Daniel Gafford's looming contract extension with the Mavericks is a three-year deal worth $54 million, league sources say.
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 23, 2025
Given the Mavericks’ roster situation, Stein’s reported $54 million value makes more sense. The number is right under the threshold that would allow Dallas to sign and immediately trade Gafford if a deal comes to fruition. If the contract crosses the threshold, the team would have to wait six months before including the veteran big man in a deal.
The flexibility is crucial because Dallas has a serious logjam in the frontcourt. Aside from Gafford, the Mavs also roster Anthony Davis, Dereck Lively II, PJ Washington, and likely first overall pick Cooper Flagg.
With Kyrie Irving out for the foreseeable future due to injury, the team may want to move some of their frontcourt pieces in exchange for a temporary starting point guard.
In 57 games last season, Gafford averaged a career-high 12.3 points to go along with 6.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks. He missed multiple weeks after the All-Star break due to an MCL sprain.
Based on recent footage of Gafford dunking on civilians at a local gym, the injury woes seem to be behind him.
