Breakdown of perspectives: Daniel Gafford – Liberty Ballers



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Everyone knows that the Philadelphia 76ers have to make decisions this season. With Head Coach Brett Brown, they will go to #RunItBack, but the lineup needs to be completed. The Sixers have some decisions to make with Jimmy Butler and Tobias Harris, but there is another important point: the rescue center.

During the regular season, the numbers of the six in the stage when their 2nd NBA defensive center, Joel Embiid was not great. During the playoffs, they were downright awful sometimes without Embiid on the floor.

The Sixers have played in a number of rescue centers throughout the regular season and playoffs; Amir Johnson, Boban Marjanovic, Jonah Bolden, Greg Monroe, guys from the West Philly branch of the YMCA and our own Kevin Rice all had a few minutes at the backup center. I'm lying about these last two, but I'm 100% real about others, and none was a good option.

Perhaps a new challenger could enter the project. Before asking, the answer is yes. I absolutely think of the chart "Here Comes a New Challenger" from Street Fighter II.

Daniel Gafford: Arkansas Razorbacks
6 feet-11/7-foot-2 wingspan / 237.6 pounds.
32.5 "standing reach / 36.5" maximum vertical reach (measurements at NBA cartel level)

This year's draft is not as good as it has been in recent years, and the Sixers finished 24th. A player to look at maybe is the great man Arkansas Razorbacks Daniel Gafford. Gafford was a two-year starter for the Razorbacks and had a second most notable season after the top two Razorbacks scorers (Jaylen Barford and Daryl Macon).

Could Gafford be an option? Let's describe some of the things that make him interesting about his place in the Sixers attack and defense.

Offensively, Gafford is a simple type of post – which is not a terrible thing. It should be noted that if you are looking for an expandable type 5, Gafford is not. He is on the block. It's bangin 'down, and it's getting easy, buckets of high percentage.

According to Synergy Sports, 36% of Gafford points were mailed. He scored 0.971 points per possession, which puts him in the 81st percentile. For context, Zion Williamson was in the 99th percentile. In a strict "post-up" situation (ie not just around the basket), Gafford scored 1.2 PPPs, placing him in the 91st percentile. He shot 58.3% on the field in these situations. Gafford scored 1.545 PPP around the basket (98th percentile / 75% FG).

Gafford is not going to space the ground like Embiid, Mike Scott or, to a lesser extent, Jonah Bolden, but if you want to easily score two points, the sophomore Razorback is a good choice.

When he became the center of the offense, Gafford saw many more doubles teams as the Razorbacks offense went through him more and more. He was much better last year to the smugglers (1,026 PPP / 54th percentile) that he passed to the dressmakers (1,125 PPP / 22nd percentile). It may not be the best to see the cutters in traffic, which can be a problem in a Sixers offense that has a lot of moving bodies (more with the second unit than the first one), but by spotting a Mike Scott's open (if re-signed) or whatever the shooter on the ground is more his strength when he comes out of a double team.

Gafford was excellent as a cutter and handler in a pick-and-roll. In his second season, he earned about 19% of his points by cutting into the basket (1.363 PPP / 83rd percentile). In a pick-and-roll situation, in particular, Gafford scored 1,469 PPPs, placing him in the 86th percentile. The Sixers are not doing as much pick-and-roll as some would like, but Gafford would be a good role player in a PnR situation with Simmons or Butler (provided that Jimmy is re-signed).

The last part of Gafford's offense was offensive setbacks and rebounds (15%), where he scored 1,278 PPP. He averaged 8.7 rebounds per game and nearly three offensive rebounds per game. (Sheesh!) For 100 possessions, Gafford averaged 16.8 rebounds per game with a decent bounce rate (also 16.8, so you know … synergy).

Defensively, Gafford was solid. This is a solid man that you can throw in front of Giannis Antetokounmpo – that's what you need against Giannis (body, and many of them). Defending the post-up, he authorized 0.733 PPP. Gafford totaled 141 blocks in two years in Arkansas and was the defensive anchor of the Razorbacks. For his academic career, he averaged 4.6 blocks for every 100 possessions.


For a little more recoil on Gafford, I spoke to Bob Holt of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. You can follow him on Twitter @BobHoltADG.

In his second season, Gafford saw his field goal attempts increase to about 11 per game and his points per game to 16.9 points per game. What has changed in Gafford's game from his first year to his sophomore year, offensively?

Much of Gafford's improved offensive was out of necessity for Arkansas. The Razorbacks lost 80% of their points – including SEC guards Jaylen Barford and Daryl Macon – from the 2017-18 team that competed in the NCAA tournament. Gafford has therefore suddenly become the # 1 choice option of the team with his combination. size and athletic freak.

Was Gafford the focal point of Mike AndersonThe offensive of Jaylen Barford and Daryl Macon?

Without a doubt. Anderson has said many times that Arkansas was at its best when the offense went through Gafford. Sometimes it meant that he was marking, or sometimes he was drawing the defense and creating open shots for his teammates. But the Razorbacks were at their best when Gafford was hit in the offensive.

Gafford led the Razorbacks in just about every category of twists (traditional and advanced stats such as total bounce percentage). In fact, for every 100 possessions, Gafford has an average of nearly 17 rebounds. Is he as wild as a rebounder in person as his stats suggest?

Gafford is a very good rebounder, especially in attack. The coaches of Arkansas have talked about his ability to jump several times for the same rebound. If he did not have it at his first try, he could have it at his second, or even his third try. He is a ruthless bounce and obviously with his length – I think he has a wingspan of 7 feet 4 inches, I do not know what he measured at the combine, but check it – he can go get the balloon. (After verification, Gafford's span is 7 feet 2 inches.)

The Sixers have a center to Joel Embiid which is as imposing as a rim protector as anyone in the NBA, but they lacked the option of spelling it during regular season and playoff periods. Is Gafford a strong defender / rim defender (that is, a good instinct, a footwork) and could it be a good reinforcement in minutes for the Sixers?

I think Gafford is a very strong rim protector. He anticipates well and has improved his footwork to reduce his second-year fouls, even though he's sometimes had trouble. He not only blocked the shots for Arkansas, but changed a lot.

Gafford partially tore his meniscus before his first year. What was the overall impact of this injury in his first year, and does he feel like recovering from the injury in his second year?

As far as I know, this injury did not bother Gafford during his two seasons in Arkansas. At least, it did not seem like it was affecting his game. But I'm obviously not aware of the type of information that NBA teams will get from a prospective candidate's physical exams like Gafford.

Describe Gafford's personality. As you probably know, the Sixers have a lot of personality with Embiid, TJ McConnell and (if he comes back) Jimmy Butler.

It's hard to know the players very well personally, colleges with such limited access, but I found that Gafford was a fun guy who likes to be with his teammates. As a sophomore, he opened more media interviews, including explaining that he should have been more coachable at times. I think he has a good self-awareness. He never ceased criticizing himself, even in times when it seemed unjustified.

If the Sixers were to pick Gafford with the 24th pick, tell the Sixers fans what type of player and person they would have?

I think Gafford is a unique talent with a very high ceiling. He runs exceptionally well for a big man and always plays hard. It's a dunker hell. He needs to develop a perimeter shot and improve the free throws, but I believe he has the desire and the professional ethic to raise his full game and to be a player impacting in the NBA, not just a role that bounces and blocks the shots.

I also think he is a good person who will present his NBA team well. In Arkansas, players have been involved in many community service projects and have always heard that Gafford enjoyed interacting with children.

Thanks again to Bob for all his comments.


Here's a video of Gafford's most dominant game in his second season, in the March 9 win against Alabama Crimson Tide. Gafford had 29 points and 16 rebounds in 12 points in his career-high victory.

What do we think? Yeah or Nan?

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