A Center Who Can Stretch the Floor
Dallas Mavericks coach Dusty May is changing how the team uses center Daniel Gafford. The veteran big man will now test his range by shooting three-pointers in games. This is a major shift for a player who has only taken one such shot in eight years. The move aims to open up the offense and create new scoring options for the team.
Gafford has spent his career inside the paint. He sets screens, rolls to the basket, and blocks shots. Now, the coaching staff wants him to step back and fire from beyond the arc. It is a risky idea for a player with little experience at that range, but the team believes he has the form to make it work.
The Numbers Behind the Shot
Why would a coach ask a center to shoot threes? The stats show Gafford is already good at scoring near the rim. According to the Dallas News, his career percentage on attempts inside three feet of the rim stands at 79.7%. He also shoots 53.4% from three to 10 feet. His range drops to 46% from 10 to 16 feet, which is still a solid number for a big man.
The real drop comes from 16 feet to the three-point line. There, he has shot just 21.1%. This is the area he needs to improve. Despite the low percentage, Gafford has a textbook shooting form. He has shown promise in drills and team scrimmages. During practice, the team watched him successfully land four consecutive corner three-pointers.
The Dallas News reports that Gafford has just one three-point attempt in his entire career. That shot happened on March 29, 2022, when he played for the Washington Wizards. He launched a heave from midcourt with 2.1 seconds left in the first quarter against the Chicago Bulls. The ball barely grazed the rim. He remembers that moment well.
Gafford’s Take on the New Role
Gafford knows this is new territory for him. His two-year tenure at Arkansas and his high school career both featured no three-point shooting. His job was always the traditional duties of a big man. But he is ready to accept the challenge. When asked about the plan, he said he feels the team has faith in him.
“They’re putting a lot of faith in me to be able to take those shots. It’s only right that I do the same for myself,” Gafford said. He admits the start might be rough. “It’ll be uncomfortable at first, but I feel like after the first couple of misses I’ll be able to knock the rust out and be able to knock shots down,” he added.
He sees the logic in the request. “That’s usually when I’m supposed to be taking 3s anyway,” Gafford said. “I just shot it.” He is looking forward to the chance to expand his game. “I’m looking forward to it,” he said. The team is betting on his ability to learn quickly.
The Coach’s Vision for the Offense
Dusty May wants to show more of Gafford’s offensive range. The coach plans to have him shoot rhythm threes during games. “He’s gonna shoot a few rhythm 3s,” May said. This brief comment was a big deal given Gafford’s history. May wants the center to be a playmaking decision-maker on the perimeter, not just a finisher.
The coaching staff sees Gafford as more than a dunker. “He’s one of the best finishers around the rim in the league, and then you watch him and his ability to score quickly, score through contact, move the ball around,” May noted. Adding the three-point shot to that mix makes him a much harder player to guard.
If Gafford can hit even a few threes, it changes how defenses play the Mavericks. Opponents cannot just collapse in the paint anymore. They must respect his shot from deep. This opens lanes for guards like Kyrie Irving and Cooper Flagg to drive. It is a smart way to use a talented player in a new role.
This change fits the new direction of the Mavericks. The team is moving toward a faster pace and more versatile players. Having a center who can shoot from outside helps that goal. It allows the team to run more pick-and-pop plays instead of just pick-and-rolls. The floor opens up, and the offense becomes less predictable.
It is not a guarantee that Gafford will become a sharpshooter. The stats show he has struggled from distance in the past. But the team has seen his form in practice. They have seen him hit four corner threes in a row. That kind of success in drills suggests he has the talent to make the jump.
Fans will get to see the results soon. The team is preparing for the upcoming season. Every game will be a test for Gafford. If he can knock down shots, he becomes a much more valuable piece for Dallas. If he misses, the team might dial back the plan. For now, the coach is giving him the green light to try.
The Mavericks are betting on growth. They are betting that a player with a high basketball IQ and good form can learn a new skill. It is a bold move, but one that could pay off big. The team needs all the help they can get on offense. Expanding Gafford’s range is a smart way to get it.
