After receiving a three-year extension prior to the 2021-22 season, it appeared the Wizards’ organization was making it known that they saw Daniel Gafford as their center of the future, but the season turned out vastly different than many were expecting. Gafford started out the season as the starting center, who seemingly was expected to be a defensive anchor and the team’s primary lob threat.
As the season went on though, Gafford’s minutes became reduced, sometimes without a clear rhyme or reason. With the return of Thomas Bryant and the presence of Montrezl Harrell, Gafford saw his playing time dwindle as the team began to freefall.