Report: Washington Wizards Trade Daniel Gafford to the Dallas Mavericks

The Washington Wizards have traded Daniel Gafford to the Dallas Mavericks.

The Washington Wizards have traded center Daniel Gafford to the Dallas Mavericks according to ESPN Senior Insider Adrian Wojnarowski.

The reported return to the Wizards is center/forward Richaun Holmes and draft compensation.

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Gafford has been the starting center for Washington this year and is averaging career highs in all major statistical categories.

After being acquired in a trade from the Chicago Bulls in 2021, Gafford has slowly come along and has been a force defensively in the paint.

You would have to assume the rise of center Marvin Bagley III played a role in the Wizards front office deciding to move on from Gafford.

The Mavericks are getting a great rim protector and Gafford will automatically slot into their rotation and make their team much better.

Washington Wizards center Daniel Gafford (21) celebrates after scoring a basket against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half at Paycom Center. Washington won 101-99 / Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports

This is exactly the type of move that Dallas needed to make to improve their title chances.

In return, Washington is bringing in Holmes who has only played in 23 games this year and is averaging 3.4 points per game.

Holmes is owed a lot of money for not very much production as he is getting 12 million this year and has a player option for next year with 12.8 million owed.

The draft compensation coming back to the Wizards should be significant for taking on Holmes' contract.

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Because Holmes has the player option on his contract for next year a buyout may not be in the cards unless agreed upon.

Holmes most likely won't agree to a buyout either with all the money he will be making next year.

Other Washington players to watch today are guards Tyus Jones and Delon Wright as the trade market continues to be fluid.

Stay tuned to Inside The Wizards for all your updates on the NBA trade deadline.

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