NBA Rumors: Daniel Gafford Trade to Mavs Expected; Wizards Get Richaun Holmes, Picks

The Dallas Mavericks are reportedly nearing a deal with the Washington Wizards for center Daniel Gafford ahead of Thursday's NBA trade deadline.

According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the expected trade will see Dallas send center Richaun Holmes and draft pick compensation to Washington.

Gafford, 25, signed a four-year, $40.18 million contract extension with the Wizards in 2021, and he is under contract through the 2025-26 season.

Since beginning his career with the Chicago Bulls, Gafford has spent parts of the past four seasons in Washington.

Through 45 games this season, Gafford is enjoying a career year with personal-best averages of 10.9 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.2 blocks, 1.5 assists and 1.0 block per contest, while shooting 69.0 percent from the field.

The 6'10" big man has been one of very few bright spots this season for a Wizards team that 14th in the Eastern Conference with a 9-41 record.

Meanwhile, the Mavs are eighth in the Western Conference at 28-23, and although they are just 4-6 over their past 10 games, they remain potential championship contenders due to their superstar backcourt combo of Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving.

The Mavericks are lacking star power outside of those two players, and while Gafford won't necessarily bring any to the table, he would be their fourth-leading scorer and second-leading rebounder.

Gafford also gives the Mavs some solid frontcourt depth alongside Grant Williams, Maxi Kleber, Dwight Powell and rookie Dereck Lively II, the latter of whom is nursing a broken nose.

In Holmes, the Wizards are set to receive a 30-year-old veteran has seen his playing time drop off significantly over the past two seasons.

While with the Sacramento Kings in 2020-21, Holmes had a career year, averaging 14.2 points and 8.3 rebounds per game, and he followed it up with another solid campaign in 2021-22, averaging 10.4 points and 7.0 rebounds.

Holmes made only one start in the 42 games he appeared in for the Kings last season, though, and averaged 3.1 points and 1.9 rebounds in 8.3 minutes per game.

He hasn't made much more of an impact than that in Dallas this season, averaging 3.4 points and 3.4 rebounds in 10.3 minutes per game over 23 contests.

Holmes has a $12.8 million player option for next season, and it seems likely that he will exercise it since it would be tough for him to get a better deal in free agency.

Even so, it is a sensible move for a rebuilding team like Washington since his contract will expire before Gafford's would have.