The Dallas Mavericks aren’t done building their wall in the paint. Daniel Gafford has agreed to a three-year, $60 million contract extension that will keep him in Dallas through the 2028–29 season, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.
The extension comes after Gafford’s best season yet, averaging a career-high 12.3 points per game, anchoring the Mavs’ frontcourt with energy, rim-running, and elite defensive timing.
Gafford was top-10 in field-goal defense among players who contested at least 800 shots last season—locking down the paint with a mix of verticality, timing, and brute strength.
Now, he joins a loaded Dallas big-man rotation that already features Anthony Davis, Dereck Lively II, and incoming No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg. That’s four long, athletic defenders who can switch, protect the rim, and finish inside. Good luck scoring down low.
The Mavericks are making a clear statement: no more soft centers, no more defensive liability. This is a team gearing up for title contention, and Gafford is a big part of that vision.
From an energetic lob threat to a defensive anchor, Daniel Gafford is staying in Dallas—and the West better take notice.