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Dallas Mavericks
Orlando Magic
Aug 24, 2025 1:41 PM EDT
The Dallas Mavericks, it seems, are ready to hit the ground running with Cooper Flagg next season.
On paper, they have an elite point guard in Kyrie Irving, elite shooting threats in Klay Thompson and D’Angelo Russell, who is a career 36.5 percent shooter from deep, and fantastic frontcourt defenders and scorers in Cooper Flagg and Anthony Davis.
Of course, Irving is recovering from an ACL tear, and there is no guarantee that he will ever be the same player. With not much time to figure that out, the Mavericks would be smart to add additional depth to their frontcourt, especially after injuries piled up last season.
With Davis and Dereck Lively II in town, Daniel Gafford is expendable. Teams like the LA Lakers and Golden State Warriors would likely have interest, although sending Gafford East makes the most sense.
As the Orlando Magic try to build a title-winning roster around Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero, and Desmond Bane, adding a high-level center like Gafford makes sense, and they have a young guard who should titillate the Mavericks.
Full Mock Trade Details:
Mavericks receive: Anthony Black, Goga Bitadze
Magic receive: Daniel Gafford, 2026 first-round pick
After giving up four picks for Bane earlier this offseason, the Magic are able to recoup some draft capital while giving up two key depth pieces.
Bitadze is serviceable, although he is a clear downgrade from Gafford, as a second or third option off the bench, fans won’t complain about his addition.
Black has slowly broken out as a solid floor general, and if he keeps improving, he could be a long-term running mate next to Flagg.
As the Mavericks age, adding young talent needs to be a priority, and they will likely be too good for too long to be able to do it through the draft.
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About the Author
Jonah Kubicek