In February, the Dallas Mavericks welcomed a new player into its fold: Daniel Gafford. The 25-year-old center had previously devoted over five years to the Chicago Bulls and the Washington Wizards until he got traded before the February deadline. However, this move ended up working out in the player’s favor. While the Wizards ended up securing one of the worst win records of the season to their name, the Mavericks went up and up until they reached the NBA Finals. If all goes well, he will have the opportunity to possess his own championship ring.

The trade did more than put Daniel Gafford on a championship-worthy team. It also ensured that he receives a pay increase that will only further add to his substantial assets.

How much has Daniel Gafford earned since he entered the NBA?

During his five-year NBA career, Daniel Gafford has managed to secure a net worth of $5 million to his name. Since he has no significant sponsorship or endorsement deals to his name, the major chunk of his overall wealth comes from his NBA salary.

The Center/Power Forward joined the NBA after being selected as the 38th overall pick by the Chicago Bulls. Before the beginning of his rookie season, he signed a deal that would award him $6.1 million over four years. This was higher than the average amount that other rookie players have gotten in the past few years.

Despite maintaining a good average and significantly contributing to the scoring effort, Gafford was soon traded away as part of a three-team deal between the Bulls, the Washington Wizards, and the Boston Celtics. While the trade occurred in March 2021, the player received his new contract in October. According to the new guidelines, he was set to receive $40.2 million over three years. This marked an increase in pay by over 778.68%.

Daniel Gafford’s trade into the Dallas Mavericks did not hamper his contract, since his terms were accepted by the franchise. As a result, by the time the 2025-26 season concludes, the player will have received the entirety of the $40.2 million. Furthermore, while he received over $12.402 million as a base salary for the current tournament, the same will increase to $13.394 million and then to $14.386 million during the upcoming seasons.

How was Daniel Gafford traded to the Dallas Mavericks?

Daniel Gafford had very few memorable moments with the Wizards. The only thing that came close was a buzzer-beater he shot that helped his team win a matchup against the Detroit Pistons. However, he still contributed significantly in the matchups by putting up a staunch defense and giving some breathing room to his fellow scorers.

By February 2024, the Dallas Mavericks wanted to improve their defensive lineup. Do you want to know why? The decision was made because it became apparent that poor defense was reportedly causing the team to lose over 53.5 points on the court. Furthermore, their then-recent stats revealed that the franchise was ranked 26th in terms of blocked shots. Daniel Gafford, who was ranked 7th in terms of blocks per game and 7th amongst forwards with the best total contested shots, was the ideal candidate who could bring about a change.

Barely hours before the conclusion of the trade deadline, the Mavericks, Wizards, and the Charlotte Hornets partnered up. Dallas reportedly took power forward P.J. Washington and two second-round picks from the Hornets in exchange for Seth Curry, Grant Williams, and a 2027 first-round draft pick. Daniel Gafford was taken into the roster in exchange for 30-year-old center Richaun Holmes. Furthermore, the Mavericks even gave up their 2024 first-round selection in exchange for the defensive player.

Things started to change slightly for Gafford once he partnered with Luka Donic and Co. In the 29 games he played for the team, he secured an average score of 11.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks to his name. In early March, he established the record for the 2nd most consecutive field goals ever, falling behind Wilt Chamberlin’s record (35) by just 2 field goals. With a percentage of 72.5%, he ended his regular season run as the field goal percentage leader.

Daniel Gafford will now get to display his talents in the NBA Finals for the first time. The eyes of the world will be upon him and the rest of the Mavericks to see how they will fair.

Want to know more about the latest happenings that are taking place from outside the Mavericks-Celtics sphere? Then, check out what Shaquille O’Neal’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, had to say about the marketing genius.