If the Los Angeles Lakers fail to acquire Daniel Gafford or Dereck Lively II from the Dallas Mavericks, it's not Rob Pelinka who would be at fault—it'd be those who scolded Nico Harrison. That's an admittedly bold statement, but the manner in which the basketball community mocked Harrison could cost the Lakers in the end.
Based on a recent report, Los Angeles' biggest hurdle in acquiring either Gafford or Lively is the fear that Dallas would be viewed as an incubator for another franchise's success.
Harrison faced an unprecedented level of vitriol and criticism in the aftermath of the trade that sent Doncic to Los Angeles in exchange for a package that centered around Anthony Davis. Calls for his job existed both on social media and at Dallas' home games, thus creating a tense closing stretch for the Mavericks.
According to Dan Woike of The Los Angeles Times, individuals around the NBA are wondering if the Mavericks would be willing to complete another trade with the Lakers after the backlash they received the last time around.
“The trouble, of course, is that people around the NBA wonder how it would look if Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison engaged Pelinka and the Lakers on another trade after the last deal between the teams was so unpopular that it caused protests.”
Other options are likely to exist for the Lakers to consider, but given how well Doncic played with Gafford and Lively, it's unfortunate to think they could be written off due to external issues.
Daniel Gafford, Dereck Lively II deals unlikely due to Luka trade backlash
Gafford and Lively became the shining example of the type of center Los Angeles would find it ideal to play alongside Doncic. Athletic rim-runners who provide two-way value, they're modern bigs with old school qualities.
Unfortunately, they're also playing for a franchise that's been linked to the Lakers in a way that seems to decrease the likelihood of an offseason transaction.
If Dallas declines to negotiate, then Los Angeles will be deprived of two of its best potential trade targets. Lively is widely regarded as one of the most promising young bigs in the NBA, due in no small part to his athleticism, impressive wingspan, and his innate ability to get involved in every phase of the defensive game.
Gafford, meanwhile, is a rim-protecting menace who thrived in the pick and roll, and has proven capable of playing big minutes on a postseason team.
The cost of acquiring Lively would likely be higher given the fact that he's 21 and has shown signs of obscene untapped potential. For a Lakers team that's short on trade assets, that likely rules this possibility out if the team is unwilling to move Austin Reaves.
Considering Reaves has been effectively removed from the trade market, it's fair to assume Gafford is the more likely target.
Gafford is worth a hefty return in his own right, but the Lakers should be able to get away with building a deal without Reaves. The 26-year-old will be playing on an expiring contract in 2026-27, thus providing Dallas with impetus to complete a trade.
Unfortunately, the hurdle standing between Los Angeles and reuniting Doncic with Gafford is the response of the NBA community to a mutually agreed upon trade.