NBA Rumors: Indiana Pacers Could 'Fish' for Myles Turner's Replacement in Dallas

The Dallas Mavericks are facing a small dilemma of abundance. Their roster is full of legitimate big men, with Anthony Davis, Dereck Lively II, and Daniel Gafford competing for minutes in the paint. Added to this are the cases of Cooper Flagg and PJ Washington, two natural power forwards, although Flagg—still in an adaptation stage—is playing out of position as a shooting guard. Ultimately, Dallas's frontcourt rotation is crowded, opening the door to potential moves in the market.

On the other side of the country, the Indiana Pacers are experiencing an opposite situation. The surprising departure of Myles Turner to the Milwaukee Bucks in free agency left a huge void in the center of their defensive scheme. Today, the team is trying to fill that gap with a less convincing combination of James Wiseman, Jay Huff, and Isaiah Jackson, while struggling to maintain the interior solidity that characterized them in recent seasons.

The context seems tailor-made for a trade that benefits both parties. According to Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report, the ideal player to solve the Pacers' issues would be precisely Daniel Gafford, a center who has proven to be a legitimate starter in the league whenever given continuity.

Gafford has steadily progressed in his six years in the NBA. Last season, in Dallas, he started in 31 of the 57 games he played, averaging 13.8 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.2 blocks, and shooting 70.7% from the field in those appearances. These figures reflect an efficient player, athletic, and with a great ability to finish near the rim.

But beyond the absolute numbers, his projected production per 36 minutes is even more revealing: 20.6 points, 11.4 rebounds, and 3 blocks per game. If a team like Indiana granted him a consistent role and extended minutes every night, it would not be far-fetched to imagine his impact soaring. At 27 years old, Gafford combines experience, physique, and room for growth, qualities that would fit perfectly in a team looking to redefine itself after the injury to their leader, Tyrese Haliburton.

Tactically, the main difference between him and Turner lies in the lack of outside shooting, but his presence under the boards would compensate for that deficiency with defense, energy, and shot-blocking.

The trade options for Indiana

Swartz does not specify which pieces Indiana should offer to finalize the deal, and therein lies the greatest difficulty. With Haliburton out for the rest of the season, the team also suffers from a certain scarcity on the perimeter, limiting their maneuvering room. Furthermore, the organization does not seem willing to part with their two young promises from the 2023 draft, Jarace Walker and Ben Sheppard, both showing remarkable progress in just a couple of games this season.

In terms of draft capital, the Pacers retain their first-round picks in the upcoming years, although it would be unthinkable for them to offer the one from 2026, as Haliburton's absence could turn it into a lottery pick. However, looking ahead, once their star point guard returns and the team competes at the elite level in the East again, those later picks would lose value, potentially facilitating a deal in a different timeframe.

From the Mavericks' perspective, the situation is equally intriguing. Gafford has a very reasonable contract—a three-year extension with an average annual value of 18 million dollarsankle sprain, his profile could still attract several teams in need of immediate interior presence.

If Dallas decides to prioritize Lively's development and keep Davis as their interior anchor, parting ways with Gafford would be a logical way to balance the roster, free up minutes, and acquire assets for future moves.

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