On January 18, Beijing time, as the trading deadline approached, the options for this year's insider market became more and more abundant. According to TA reporter Christian Clark, the Mavericks' recent woes have made them start to consider trading options. They have spoken to a number of teams and are willing to trade Gafford in the squad in exchange for an impactful wing defender.

The Mavericks had a 19-10 record before Christmas, with an offensive efficiency of 117.4 and a defensive efficiency of 110.9, winning by 6.4 points per 100 possessions. In the 12 games since Christmas, they have only 3 wins and 9 losses, with an offensive efficiency of 108.9 and a defensive efficiency of only 113.5, losing by 4.6 points per 100 possessions.

Gafford is expected to join the likes of Vucevic, Valanciunas, Robert Williams, Sharpe and others as interior players who could change teams before the deadline. So far this season, Gafford has averaged 20 minutes per game, contributing 11.7 points, 6 rebounds and 1.4 blocks.

As TA reported earlier this month, the Mavericks are interested in talking to other teams about bringing in an impactful perimeter defender, but their options appear limited. The main target mentioned by Clark is Herbert Jones of the Pelicans. Jones, who was a member of last season's All-Defensive Team, is currently out indefinitely with a right shoulder injury. The Pelicans are unlikely to trade him out, as teams that were in contact with the Pelicans before Doncic's injury found out that their asking price for Jones was very high.

But if the Mavericks don't make a move, then the combination of Washington, Klay Thompson, Naji Marshall and Grimes will be tasked with defending the opposition's elite perimeter players. Jones Jr. took on that responsibility last season, but he left the team to sign a three-year contract with the Clippers. There are two more first-round picks that the Mavericks can trade, the 2025 and 2031 first-round picks, will they make a move? Let's wait and see.