Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford is about to cash in big time with a three-year contract extension worth nearly $60 million, sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania on Monday.
The deal, which will keep Gafford in Dallas through the 2028-29 season, was hammered out between Mavs officials and Gafford’s agents at Klutch Sports, Mike George and Shy Saee.
Gafford, who’ll turn 27 in October, was heading into the final year of his current three-year, $40.18 million contract that he originally signed with the Washington Wizards. He’s set to make around $14 million next season before his new extension kicks in.
The 6-foot-10 big man had a breakout season with Dallas. In 57 games, including 31 starts, he averaged a career-high 12.3 points while grabbing 6.8 rebounds and blocking 1.9 shots per game.
Perhaps most impressive? Gafford shot a blistering 70.2% from the field.
His efficiency has been off the charts since entering the league. Gafford’s 71% career field goal percentage stands as the best in the NBA since his 2019-20 rookie season among players with at least 1,000 shot attempts.
He finished 10th in the league in total blocks (102) and ranked third in offensive rating (137.4) last season.
The Gafford extension comes just days after veteran big man Dwight Powell picked up his $4 million player option for the 2025-26 season, according to NBA insider Marc Stein. Powell had until Tuesday to activate the third year of his $12 million contract.
Powell, who turns 34 next month, will be back for his 12th season with Dallas. Originally drafted by Charlotte and briefly with Boston, he’s been a Maverick mainstay since being traded to Dallas during his rookie year in 2014-15.
The Stanford product has appeared in 700 regular-season games for the Mavs, starting 254 of them, plus another 44 playoff appearances.
Powell’s role diminished significantly last season. In 55 games (just three starts), he averaged career-lows across the board: 2.1 points, 2.1 rebounds, and only 10 minutes per game.
He’ll likely be the fourth big man in the rotation behind Anthony Davis, Derek Lively II, and Gafford next season.
The Mavericks’ payroll is exploding after landing the No. 1 overall pick. Including Kyrie Irving’s $43 million player option and their upcoming first-round selection, Dallas sits $17 million over the luxury tax and has crossed both salary cap aprons.
Irving has until June 24 to officially opt in to his contract.
Being over the aprons creates some serious restrictions. According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, the Mavs won’t be able to use any of their four trade exceptions ($11 million, $7 million, $4.3 million, and $2.1 million) if they remain an apron team next season.
If they use any exceptions before June 30, they’ll trigger the first apron for 2025-26. And if they finish next season in the tax, they’ll become a repeater tax team in 2026-27, facing even steeper penalties.
On the bright side, Dallas has some draft capital to work with. They can trade the Lakers’ unprotected 2029 first-round pick and their own 2031 first-rounder, plus they have swap rights in 2026, 2031, and 2032.
The 2025 NBA draft is coming up fast – this Wednesday and Thursday.
