The Dallas Mavericks are nearing a deal to acquire center Daniel Gafford from the Washington Wizards for center Richaun Holmes and draft compensation, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
Gafford has averaged 10.9 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game as the Wizards' starter this season. He will likely be a backup to rookie Dereck Lively II, providing the Mavericks another quality lob threat and rim protector.
Holmes, whom Dallas acquired from the Sacramento Kings in a draft-day deal that also landed first-round pick Olivier-Maxence Prosper, averaged 3.4 points and 3.4 rebounds in 23 games for the Mavericks. He has a $12.9 million player option for next season.
Gafford, 25, is owed $12.4 million, $13.4 million and $14.4 million, respectively, over the next three seasons.
Lively, the 12th overall pick, has established himself as an essential part of the Mavericks' core, averaging 9.2 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game while shooting 73.9% from the floor.
He is recovering from surgery to repair his broken nose, and adding quality depth behind him was a priority for Dallas.
The Mavericks are 22-14 with Lively in the lineup and 6-9 in the games that he has missed entering Thursday night.