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Last updated: 9/30/2019
Last updated: 9/30/2019
Last updated: 9/30/2019
Summary
During his freshman season at Arkansas, some considered Gafford as a mid-first round pick. However, Gafford returned to school for his sophomore year, and ended up being drafted in the second round in 2019. So far, Gafford appears to be a decent option as a backup center, and after being traded to the Wizards he has shown that he even has some upside as a potential starter. He finishes really well at the rim, which has led him to being in the 96th percentile in eFG% for his position, per Cleaning the Glass. He has the athleticism to be a lob threat on offense and rim protector on defense. He still needs to develop his feel to really be a true impact defender though, as positional awareness and discipline are more important than athleticism.
On offense, Gafford could benefit from developing his jumper or his post moves, but he doesn't necessarily need to do that to be an impact player, as plenty of bigs can be impactful just as lob threats. However, in a heavy pick-and-roll league, if Gafford can develop his short roll game, that could make him into a starting-level center. The ability to catch a pass on the roll and make one move either to the basket or make the right pass to the open shooter would be huge for Gafford.
Cap Considerations
Gafford's $1.8 million salary for 2021-2022 is non-guaranteed, and if he is waived he will become an unrestricted free agent and the Wizards will have no form of Bird rights on him. It's very unlikely the Wizards waive Gafford, and if he did he would likely be claimed before hitting free agency.
If Gafford becomes a free agent, other teams will have multiple ways to sign him as even teams without cap space could possibly use either of the Non-Taxpayer MLE, Taxpayer MLE, or possibly even the Room MLE to sign him. I would also say that in the unlikely scenario Gafford is waived and clears waivers, his value will have dropped low enough that he would only have offers for the minimum.
Potential Teams: Wizards, Hornets, Raptors, Thunder, Knicks
Predicted Contract: Not waived: $1.8 million
If waived: 1-year, $1.8 million with the Thunder
Actual Contract: Not waived: $1.8 million
Gafford's salary is still non-guaranteed until January, but it's very unlikely he will be waived, and was not a free agent this summer.
Last updated: 8/17/2021
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