NEWS FLASH: The Dallas Mavericks Center Since joining the Los Angeles Lakers, Daniel Gafford has been the odd man out for the Dallas Mavericks. He also delivered a shocking message to Jason Kidd, the head coach of the Dallas Mavericks, and the entire Dallas Mavericks team regarding his…

In a stunning turn of events that continues to ripple through the NBA offseason, former Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford, now donning the purple and gold of the Los Angeles Lakers, delivered a direct and unexpected message to his former team — and specifically to head coach Jason Kidd.

 

Gafford, who played a pivotal role in the Mavericks’ 2024 playoff run but saw a sharp reduction in minutes during the 2025 postseason, has been vocal since arriving in Los Angeles. But few expected him to make headlines this early.

 

“I gave everything I had in Dallas,” Gafford said in an exclusive interview with local L.A. sports media. “But when the team starts treating you like an afterthought, you have to move on — and make sure they remember why they shouldn’t have let you go.”

 

The statement — part frustration, part motivation — came just days after the Lakers acquired Gafford in a sign-and-trade deal that sent future assets to Dallas. Gafford reportedly felt “sidelined and underused” during the Mavericks’ final months of the season, particularly after the team leaned heavily on a small-ball lineup.

 

Sources close to the situation suggest that tensions between Gafford and coach Kidd had been building throughout the spring, with the coaching staff favoring Dereck Lively II in high-stakes moments.

 

“I respect Coach Kidd, but I was never really given a clear role once the rotation shifted,” Gafford continued. “It’s hard to contribute when you’re not trusted. I think the Lakers believe in what I bring — and I’m ready to prove I’m more than just a role player.”

 

The Mavericks organization has not issued a public response, but league insiders say Gafford’s departure — and his comments — have stirred strong reactions in the locker room. One anonymous Mavs player was quoted as saying, “He’s a competitor. Maybe this is what he needs to fuel him, but we’ve moved on.”

 

Now, the basketball world watches closely as the Mavericks retool around Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving, while Gafford prepares to make his mark alongside Anthony Davis and a revamped Lakers squad aiming for another deep playoff run.

 

With the schedule release just weeks away, all eyes are on the first Lakers-Mavericks showdown — a matchup that just got a lot more personal.