The Mavericks may have told P.J. Washington one thing, but the rest of the league still hasn’t stopped talking.
Last week, Washington said new team president Masai Ujiri told him he wouldn’t be traded and that, if anything changed, Ujiri would give him a heads-up. Washington also said he’s exactly the kind of player Ujiri likes to have around, and that track record with the Toronto Raptors supports the point.
Even so, rival teams are still watching the situation closely, according to NBA insider Marc Stein.
"...The perception among various rival teams persists that Dallas would ultimately consider offers for the 28-year-old since its roster features countless forwards of all sizes behind [Cooper] Flagg and [Naji] Marshall," Stein reported in his Substack. "New to the group just since last season ended: Former No. 1 overall pick Zaccharie Risacher, prized rookie Morez Johnson Jr., and offseason import Tarik Biberović."
Washington is about to begin the first year of a four-year, $88 million extension, and some around the league view that number as a bit rich right now. The Mavericks also just locked up Naji Marshall on a cheaper three-year deal, which has led some teams to wonder whether Washington is the more movable piece.
The comparison between the two isn’t hard to make. Marshall brings more as a ball-handler and does a better job defending smaller guards. Washington, though, offers more defensive versatility and is the better three-point shooter, which usually carries more value.
For now, Dallas plans to keep both. There are still questions about how Washington fits next to Cooper Flagg, but the Mavericks are hoping Kyrie Irving’s return can make the offense easier to run and help smooth out those issues.
Still, it would be a surprise if Dallas didn’t at least spend time checking around the league to see what Washington could bring back. With so little future draft capital on hand, the Mavericks have reason to explore any path that could net them more picks.
Washington’s contract, the ankle problems he’s dealt with over the last two seasons, and his inconsistent three-point shooting all make him a tricky player to move. There’s also a scenario where he looks better once Irving is back, and Dallas waits until closer to the deadline before making any real decision.
The bigger picture is simple: the Mavericks have too many forwards and have already poured major resources into Morez Johnson Jr., whom they selected with the 9th overall pick in a talented draft class.
How the season unfolds will matter too. If Dallas is hanging around the playoff race near the deadline, the team may be less inclined to make a significant move, even if the longer-term focus should be building around Cooper Flagg.
In Other News...
Mavericks Need More From Naji Marshall In One Crucial Area
Naji Marshall came to Dallas with a reputation as a useful two-way wing, someone who could give the Mavericks sturdy perimeter defense and enough offensive pop to keep the floor spaced. Since arriving, though, the shooting has not traveled with him in the same way it did in New Orleans, and the team is still waiting for that part of his game to settle in alongside the rest of his role.
Marshall has still shown value as a defender, including at least one steal per game in each of the last two seasons, but Dallas wants more consistency on both ends as it heads into the new year. With Kyrie Irving set to return to the lineup, the Mavericks need Marshall to be cleaner and more reliable as a spacer and to bring the kind of effort that helps hold up the wing rotation over the course of a long season. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Opening Night Lineup Suddenly Feels Much More Settled
Dereck Lively II has not yet returned to practice, and his chances of being ready for the Mavericks season opener look slim enough to narrow one of the teams biggest early questions. With the calendar moving toward opening night, Dallas is beginning to get a clearer picture of how its frontcourt will line up, and that matters for a roster still sorting out roles around the paint.
Dusty May is expected to go with Daniel Gafford at center to begin the season, a familiar move for a player who has already started games for Dallas before. The more interesting wrinkle is what comes next: Gafford is slated to take on a bigger offensive role, and that could mean a different look for the Mavericks spacing if his game stretches beyond the usual rim-running duties. [Read more 🡒]
Dereck Lively II Just Became A Bigger Long-Term Mavs Question
Dereck Lively II has become one of the more interesting long-term decisions on the Mavericks docket, with the team facing an October 19 deadline to work out a rookie-scale extension. For now, the expectation is that Dallas will keep its powder dry and take a longer look, especially with Lively still working back from foot surgery and not yet ready to return to practice.
That creates an awkward but understandable pause for a player the Mavericks still view as part of their future, but one whose health and role need more clarity before any multiyear commitment. Recent reporting has also pointed to other players from the 2023 draft class being more likely to land extensions first, which only sharpens the question hanging over Lively as Dallas weighs recovery, fit and timing. [Read more 🡒]