Daniel Gafford Probable for Knicks Game, Future Role with Mavericks Under Scrutiny

Daniel Gafford (ankle) is probable for Wednesday's game against the Knicks. After a breakout season where he was the 38th-ranked player in standard leagues, averaging 11.0 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 3.0 combined steals and blocks, his midseason trade to Dallas led to fluctuating minutes. The Mavericks view Dereck Lively as their future center, often playing Gafford fewer minutes despite him starting. This trend raises concerns about Gafford replicating his performance if his minutes drop below 20-22, though he remains an elite per-minute fantasy producer. Previously with the Wizards, he averaged 9.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks, shooting 73.2 percent from the field. His career stats show a significant difference as a starter (9.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.5 blocks) versus off the bench (6.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.2 blocks).