The Mavericks may not be done reshaping their roster, and P.J. Washington’s name is the one drawing the most attention.
Marc Stein reports that Dallas now has a heavy load of forwards after its offseason overhaul, a setup that could eventually make Washington the odd man out. Rival teams, according to Stein, believe the Mavericks will weigh moving him at some point, especially with the additions of former No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher, lottery selection Morez Johnson Jr. and European star Tarik Biberovic.
Washington is heading into the first year of the four-year, $88MM extension he signed last summer, but his fit with a rebuilding Dallas team is already being questioned around the league. Stein says Washington has recently spoken about wanting to make the playoffs, something that has happened only once in his seven NBA seasons. That kind of goal may not line up with the Mavericks’ current direction, and contending teams are expected to show interest before the February trade deadline.
Stein also pointed to comments Washington made this week to Ron Harrod Jr. of DLLS Sports about a conversation with team president Masai Ujiri.
“He told me [that] you’re basically what I look for in a player: A big versatile guy that can do a lot of things on both ends of the floor,” Washington said. “He told me I wasn’t going to get traded - and [that] if I was he would tell me.
So for me I think it’s just building trust. He’s a guy you can trust and have a great relationship with.”
Around the league, the rookie-scale extension window is closing fast, and Stein says the market is starting to take shape. Victor Wembanyama, Amen Thompson, Ausar Thompson and Keyonte George are already done deals from the 2023 draft class, while league sources tell Stein that the Hornets’ Brandon Miller, the Magic’s Anthony Black, the Thunder’s Cason Wallace and the Warriors’ Brandin Podziemski are the likeliest next names to join them.
Trail Blazers general manager Joe Cronin recently described the team’s talks with Scoot Henderson as “seemingly mutual interest,” but Stein says that situation remains difficult to read. The same goes for the Wizards’ Bilal Coulibaly.
Golden State, meanwhile, wants to get something done with Podziemski before the deadline, according to Stein’s sources. Jake Fischer, Stein’s partner at The Stein Line, said on the Bleacher Report video stream last week that the decision may come down to whether the Warriors are willing to exceed the four-year, $60MM extension the Heat gave Pelle Larsson last month.
Stein also revisited the Pistons’ long-running contract standoff with Jalen Duren, which finally ended when he agreed to Detroit’s five-year, $200MM offer on October 1. Duren said on Sunday that he remains loyal to the organization, but the timing is tight for putting any lingering issues behind him. The Pistons open the preseason tonight and have their first regular season game in 15 days.
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 🡒]