NBA Rumors: Indiana Pacers Trade Proposal Lands Daniel Gafford In Swap With Dallas Mavericks
The Indiana Pacers have reached a point where the focus is no longer on salvaging the current NBA season, but on positioning themselves for the next one.
With Tyrese Haliburton sidelined for the remainder of the season, Indiana’s year has effectively shifted into a transitional phase. Injuries and defensive instability have compounded the problem, leaving the Pacers with the league’s worst record at 6-28 and little incentive to chase short-term fixes. Instead, the trade deadline presents an opportunity to address structural needs with an eye toward 2026.
That context makes Daniel Gafford a sensible target. Rather than a desperation move, acquiring Gafford would allow Indiana to use a lost season productively by stabilizing a long-term roster weakness and setting a foundation for next year when Haliburton returns.
NBA Trade Proposal: Indiana Pacers Land Daniel Gafford
Indiana Pacers Receive:
- Daniel Gafford
- Danté Exum
Dallas Mavericks Receive:
Why the Indiana Pacers Do the Deal
Indiana’s deadline approach is shaped by reality. Without Haliburton, the Pacers lack a central organizing force offensively and have struggled to sustain cohesion on either end of the floor.
Head coach Rick Carlisle has repeatedly pointed to defensive breakdowns and inconsistent effort as issues that cannot be solved overnight.
Gafford offers a piece that translates directly to next season rather than simply patching the present. He is averaging 8.2 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks in 23 games this season and provides a reliable rim-running, rim-protecting presence Indiana has lacked.
His recent 17-point, 10-rebound performance against Portland highlighted the type of interior production and physicality that could become a staple alongside Haliburton once he returns.
From a roster-building standpoint, this is about fit and continuity. Gafford does not need touches, finishes efficiently around the rim, and gives Indiana a defensive anchor that allows perimeter defenders to be more aggressive. Adding him now allows the Pacers to spend the remainder of the season integrating a long-term piece rather than cycling through stopgaps.
Exum’s inclusion is purely financial. He is out for the season following knee surgery and functions as salary ballast, enabling Indiana to absorb Gafford’s contract without sacrificing future flexibility.
Why the Dallas Mavericks Do the Deal
For Dallas, the move reflects a different kind of transition. Gafford has been productive and, as Jason Kidd noted recently, has been “fighting through injury and doing whatever he can to help his team.” But he was acquired as part of a win-now push built around Luka Dončić, a framework that no longer defines the franchise.
As the Mavericks continue reshaping their roster around Cooper Flagg, the front office has reason to prioritize younger assets and flexibility over veteran continuity. Jarace Walker fits that direction as a former lottery pick with defensive versatility and developmental upside. Isaiah Jackson adds depth and a change-of-scenery opportunity, while the 2028 second-round pick provides marginal future value.
Rather than forcing a decision on Gafford’s next contract phase, Dallas converts a solid contributor into assets that better align with a longer-term timeline.
Bigger Picture
Indiana’s season has reached a point where stabilizing the middle matters more than patience. Dallas, meanwhile, is balancing competitiveness with a longer-term vision centered on Flagg’s development. This proposal reflects that divergence.
For the Pacers, Gafford offers an immediate, functional solution to a glaring problem. For the Mavericks, the move converts a win-now piece into younger assets better suited for the next phase. It is not a splashy deal, but it is a pragmatic one—one that addresses structural needs on both sides without forcing either team into an all-or-nothing gamble.
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