P.J. Washington has given the Mavericks plenty to like through the first eight games, but one part of his game is still keeping him from becoming a truly dangerous weapon in Dallas.
He’s averaging 14.5 points, a career-high 8.0 rebounds and 0.9 blocks per game, production that has helped push the Mavericks to a 4-4 start with wins over the Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets. What stands out even more is that Washington has raised his scoring average even with Kyrie Irving back in the lineup.
Dusty May said last week that he has been impressed with the 28-year-old forward, especially the way Washington can fit into different lineups and impact the game in multiple ways. May pointed to Washington’s ability to play big or small, punish smaller defenders inside with his size and finishing, and stay steady from game to game.
Those traits have shown up. The missing piece is the jumper.
Washington is shooting a career-low 30.8 percent from three, and that number is dragging down how far his game can stretch. For the Mavericks, that matters.
They’re sitting 15th in the league in offense at 112.5 points per 100 possessions, and they’re shooting 33.7 percent from deep, which ranks 19th in the NBA. If Washington starts turning his looks into made threes, the whole attack gets sharper.
That’s where the fit with Irving and Cooper Flagg becomes so important. Both players thrive getting downhill and attacking the basket, and a reliable Washington on the perimeter would make help defenders think twice before collapsing into the paint. His shooting would widen the floor and give Dallas more room to work.
The frustrating part for the Mavericks is that the opportunities are there. Irving and Flagg are helping create clean chances for Washington, and he’s taking a team-high 3.4 open threes per game.
He’s just not converting them, hitting only 22.2 percent of those open looks. That mark is third-worst on the team, ahead of only Flagg and Morez Johnson Jr., who has attempted just one open three all season.
Since arriving in Dallas in 2024, Washington’s three-point shot has swung wildly from one stretch to the next. When it’s going, he changes games.
Mavs fans saw that during the 2024 NBA Playoffs, when his shooting was a major reason Dallas was able to knock off Oklahoma City in the second round. They’ve also seen the other version, the one where open looks don’t fall and the offense loses some of its edge.
His three-point percentage has dropped in each of the last two seasons after he knocked down 38.1 percent of his attempts in his first full season with the Mavericks. This year, the concern has only grown.
Even with that inconsistency, Washington has still been valuable. He’s the third-leading scorer behind Kyrie and Coop, and that production matters.
But the Mavericks know there’s another level available if his jumper starts to cooperate. If that happens, Washington could become the solidified third option Dallas needs.
In Other News...
Jeremy Sochans Dallas Decision Could Shape What Comes Next
The Mavericks developmental pipeline got a little more interesting this week as Jeremy Sochan weighed his next step and, in the process, highlighted how much front-office relationships can matter when a player is deciding between staying in the U.S. or heading overseas. For Dallas, the choice is about more than one players immediate landing spot. It speaks to how the organization is trying to position its G League affiliate as a real option for talent that might otherwise look to Europe for a clearer path and a bigger role.
The timing also matters because the broader market for available players keeps shifting. Cedi Osman is facing a lengthy recovery after surgery on his right meniscus, Greg Brown III is set for surgery on a ruptured right Achilles tendon, and Dalano Banton was waived after a brief stint in China, while Ed Davis is dealing with allegations tied to a sports bribery scheme involving Malik Beasley. Against that backdrop, Dallas has a chance to keep building a development network that feels stable and appealing, even if the full payoff from Sochans decision is still to come. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Finally Look Healthier But One Rotation Question Still Looms
The Mavericks are starting to get some bodies back at a useful time, with a back-to-back looming against the Nets and Pacers. Kyrie Irving is not listed on the injury report for the upcoming game, and Dallas is finally getting closer to something resembling its regular rotation after a stretch in which availability has been a moving target.
Even so, the injury report still leaves a few questions hanging over Sunday. Dallas has four players listed, with three already ruled out because of various injuries, so the staff may still have to juggle minutes and roles even as the roster gets healthier. Brooklyn has not submitted its report yet, but the Nets are expected to be without guards Egor Demin and Mikel Brown Jr., which only adds another layer to a game where the Mavericks are trying to stabilize their lineup without overextending anyone. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Frontcourt Problem Is Suddenly Becoming A Real Advantage
What looked like a preseason concern for Dallas has started to look like a roster strength, with the backup point guard spot and the frontcourt both holding up better than expected. Contributions from Walter Clayton Jr., Naji Marshall and Daniel Gafford have helped steady the rotation, while coach Dusty May has gotten the kind of defensive buy-in that can change the tone of a team early in the season.
The bigger development is how that depth is shaping the Mavericks identity on that end of the floor. Dallas has been more versatile with its lineups and has been able to keep energy on the court, with the frontcourt group giving the staff more ways to mix and match without losing physicality. For a team that entered the year with questions in those areas, the early returns have been encouraging, even if the full ceiling of this group is still unfolding. [Read more 🡒]