Could Daniel Gafford Be Traded to Pacers by NBA Deadline? Latest Landing Spot Rumors

Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford could experience a change of scenery prior to the trade deadline during the 2025-26 season.

According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, the Indiana Pacers are "believed to hold interest" in Gafford on the trade market as a potential pick-and-roll partner for star point guard Tyrese Haliburton next season.

While Haliburton won't play at any point during Indiana's 2025-26 campaign due to a torn Achilles that he suffered in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals, Gafford is still under contract through the 2028-29 season.

At 27 years old, he also doesn't fit the exact timeline of a 9-16 Mavericks squad looking to build around standout rookie Cooper Flagg.

Still, Gafford's athletic finishing ability around the rim combined with his paint protection makes him an intriguing fit on a Pacers team still looking to make up for the offseason departure of center Myles Turner.

Gafford owns a 70.6 field-goal percentage while averaging 1.5 blocks in 19.9 minutes per game throughout his career. This season, he's recording 8.9 points and 6.4 rebounds to go along with 1.4 rejections per game while shooting 61.0 percent from the field.

Pacers centers rank No. 23 in the league by combining to average 52.7 points per game this year and hold the No. 27 spot in the association with an overall field-goal percentage of 41.3 percent (via NBA.com).

While Indiana sits at just 6-18, it could choose to buy at the deadline in order to prepare for Haliburton's return next season.

The 2025-26 trade deadline is on Feb. 5.