Menu. Gafford entered the season ranked as a top 70 recruit and could leave Arkansas after one season as a 1st round pick.
Mavs have a big hole at center and Gafford would fit …
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Many saw him as sure-fire first round pick after his freshman year, but he decided to go back to school for another year to improve upon a few of his weaknesses before putting his name into the 2019 draft.
For comparison, he finished just 39 possessions as a roll man in his sophomore season; it’s fair to say that he won’t have a nearly 6-to-1 post-up-to-roll-man usage ratio as an NBA player.Defensively, his vertical athleticism gives him upside as a shot blocker and rim presence, whether as a weak-side rotator or a primary defender in pick-and-roll. Holding up against some of the bigger true centers in the league will be a chore and may require his team to double more often.
His lack of versatility on both ends of the floor will put a limit on his contributions toward winning basketball, especially at the highest levels, and maxing out his current skill set will make him a mid-tier starting center.
There’s not much upside to be explored with his jumper, as he’s a poor free throw shooter and doesn’t display good touch on his contested non-dunk finishes.Gafford’s turnover numbers skyrocketed during his sophomore season, despite only a small bump in usage and no corresponding bump in assist percentage.
So far, he has been quite effective in his role, as he can finish plays around the basket, rebound, and block shots.
Historical Draft Breakdown By Team His sophomore year did very little to persuade scouts and NBA front offices, as his stock has dropped significantly in the ensuing year; he’s now a borderline first-round pick in what is a significantly weaker draft class. His greatest strengths are his athleticism, mobility, rebounding and energy.
Having the athleticism to get vertical and block shots is one thing, but being in position in the first place is the more vital aspect to rim protection.
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He won’t be asked to post up nearly as much (if at all) at the NBA level, where he’ll be a part of a more modern offense than he was at Arkansas.
Most Viewed A team with a strong playmaker on the perimeter who needs a pick-and-roll partner will look Gafford’s way, as he will be able to play that role very well at the next level.His offensive weaknesses come with essentially everything else.
Matchup Daniel Gafford - C - Arkansas - NBA Draft Profile and Stats
He’s a strong rim-runner in pick-and-roll, with an ability to set solid screens and roll hard, getting up for lobs at the rim.
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Gafford fits the mode of an athletic lob catcher/ rim runner and shot blocker and reminds me a lot of Brandan Wright coming out of college. He’s a little jumpy for blocks and commits too many fouls, but those are issues that can be ironed out over his first year or two in the league.With the way the center position is going, Gafford feels more like a high second-round pick a team wants to bring in to see what he can do as a backup, rather than a full-fledged starter. © 2020 DraftExpress LLC All rights reserved.