“Daniel Gafford … remains a solid rim protector and pick-and-roll partner,” Dan Favale of Bleacher Report wrote last week. “That he remained efficient as the dive man in this year’s Dallas Mavericks offense is a modest miracle.”

Daniel Gafford Can Offer Celtics Interior Defense That Cost Them Playoff Win in Round 1 Against 76ers

GettyCenter Daniel Gafford of the Dallas Mavericks.

Gafford will play next season at 28 years old and is entering the first year of a three-season deal worth $54.4 million in 2026-27.

He averaged 21.7 minutes per night across 55 games (44 starts) last season. Gafford averaged 9.5 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.3 blocks.

Boston traded Kristaps Porzingis to the Atlanta Hawks last July in an effort to save money against the salary cap, a decision ostensibly made easier by the Achilles tendon injury to Jayson Tatum in Round 2 of the 2025 playoffs against the New York Knicks.

The Celtics achieved their financial goals by dealing Porzingis, who ended up with the Golden State Warriors at the end of another season plagued by on-and-off health issues. However, Boston ended up missing his height and rim protection in its Round 1 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers after earning an unlikely No. 2 seed in the East and Tatum returning earlier than expected.

Jaylen Brown Making Off-Court Waves Since Celtics’ Playoff Exit

GettyJaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics.

More blockbuster-style trade proposals involving the Celtics are floating around the future of superstar Jaylen Brown following the best season of his career, in which he averaged 28.7 points per game and finished sixth in MVP voting.

Brown has stirred up controversy in the aftermath of the team’s playoff collapse, first by describing the 2025-26 campaign as his favorite season, which drew criticism from fans and prominent media members accusing Brown of being more enamored with personal accolades/attention than team success in the context of Tatum missing most of the year with injury.

Brown was defiant in response, calling out ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith in particular. And while that in itself isn’t liable to meaningfully impact Boston’s stance on Brown’s future with the team one way or another, Brown’s behavior following the conclusion of the playoffs could be indicative of the star’s desire to have his own team — so to speak.

The Celtics probably will not be able to sell higher on Brown than they can this offseason, so it might be time for Boston to at least consider splitting up the Brown/Tatum duo.