Lakers-Mavericks could pull off an NBA shaking trade involving two Dallas stars

• NBA insider Jovan Buha evaluated hypothetical trade scenarios bringing PJ Washington or Daniel Gafford to the Los Angeles Lakers.

• Washington is viewed as a seamless tactical fit for the starting lineup, although red flags remain over his conditioning.

• Financial constraints make acquiring center Daniel Gafford less appealing for the franchise’s long term payroll flexibility.

The Los Angeles Lakers front office continues to actively explore potential roster upgrades ahead of the 2026-27 NBA regular season. Facing the immediate task of trimming their roster down to fifteen players, the franchise is looking at all available options to maximize championship contention. During a live Q&A broadcast, NBA reporter Jovan Buha addressed fans’ questions regarding potential commercial transactions with the Dallas Mavericks, analyzing the strategic and economic viability of acquiring either versatile forward PJ Washington or rim protector Daniel Gafford.

Trade assets and roster evaluation

When asked about what assets Los Angeles should be willing to part with, Buha made it clear that he would support a deal built around young assets and draft capital. The insider noted that he would comfortably trade a package centered on Dalton Knecht, Jarred Vanderbilt or a collection of second round picks for either Dallas contributor. However, Buha firmly cautioned that the Lakers must remain disciplined regarding their long term cap structure, advising against sacrificing future first round draft picks while managing payroll commitments alongside core pillars like Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and Walker Kessler.

Financial hesitation surrounding Daniel Gafford

Regarding center Daniel Gafford, Buha expressed notable hesitation tied directly to roster construction and salary distribution. “If you end up restructuring the roster and Daniel Gafford becomes your fourth highest paid player, yes, you have the center position covered, but you only have a limited amount of money to spend,” Buha explained. The reporter emphasized that the ultimate vision for the Lakers requires maintaining financial flexibility to eventually land a high caliber wing player earning over twenty five million dollars, making him unwilling to attach future pick swaps for Gafford.

 

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Una publicación compartida por Courtside Lakers (@courtside.lakers)

PJ Washington’s tactical fit and red flags

Conversely, PJ Washington was highlighted as a far superior tactical fit capable of sliding directly into the Lakers’ starting unit. Nevertheless, Buha pointed out several concerning red flags regarding Washington’s current offseason situation and trade value. The analyst revealed that Washington arrived at training camp weighing nearly 260 pounds, gaining almost 30 pounds since media day. Furthermore, the lack of aggressive league wide interest despite Dallas actively shopping him raises questions. Buha concluded that a maximum offer of two second round draft picks and a pick swap would be the highest price Los Angeles should consider paying.

Cover photos from: @lakers – @dallasmavs