It feels like it was eons ago that the Dallas Mavericks traded for PJ Washington from the Charlotte Hornets, with the intention way back in 2024 of building a championship roster around Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. Washington exceeded expectations, starting for the Mavericks in their NBA Finals run, averaging 13.0 points and 6.6 rebounds per game while guarding the opposing team’s best forward. Most notably, he shot 23-of-49 (47%!) in the Mavericks’ second-round series win over the Oklahoma City
Thunder that year.
Things have changed drastically since Washington’s arrival. Doncic was infamously shipped away to the Los Angeles Lakers in the dead of night on that fateful night in February 2025. Doncic’s ability to get his teammates open shots allowed Washington to see the most unguarded shot opportunities of his career, and he knocked them down at a more efficient rate than he has since Doncic’s departure. Eventually, the architects of Washington’s rise to prominence on the roster followed Doncic out the door in Big D. Nico Harrison’s early-season firing last year was followed by Jason Kidd’s departure after the resulting implosion of the 2025-26 season.
Under new coaching and management, the Mavericks are trying to build a competitive team around rising star and Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg. Despite all of the changes in Dallas, Washington has remained one of the few constants. He averaged 14.2 points, 6.0 rebounds, and roughly two stocks (steals + blocks) in 56 games last season. The Mavericks will have to evaluate Washington’s role with the organization this season as they look to build for the future.
Big question
In Washington’s two and a half years as a Maverick, he has come off the bench in just five of his 147 appearances in the regular season for Dallas. He plays physically, and his ability to defend and bring the ball up the court aligns with Masai Ujiri’s favorite player archetype: defensive forwards who aren’t good shooters but can play multiple roles. His strength and toughness can also give Dallas a different look, sliding him over to a small-ball center in certain lineups. Though Washington checks a lot of boxes for new head coach Dusty May, May admits that he is still evaluating who will join Flagg and Irving in the starting lineup. He has also added that Washington is “in the mix” to hear his name called as a part of the Mavericks’ first-five and has praised him in recent training camp practices.
Where does Washington fall in the pecking order for Dallas? The Mavericks are a frontcourt-heavy team on paper that has only added to their forward depth in the offseason, with the addition of Morez Johnson Jr., Santi Aldama and Tobi Lawal, who will join Washington, Flagg, Naji Marshall, Daniel Gafford, and Dereck Lively in the frontcourt. That’s a lot of guys fighting for playing time.
To compound things, does Washington fit the Mavericks’ timeline around 19-year-old Flagg? Marc Stein reported that the Mavericks are open to offers for Washington since their roster is stacked with forwards. The Mavericks will be faced with the question of where Washington fits into the team’s long-term plans as they look to build towards contention.
Best case scenario
The good news is that with Irving’s return, Flagg’s hopeful sophomore leap, and an influx of forwards, Washington’s role should be the simplest it’s been since he played alongside Doncic. With Irving and Flagg handling most of the offensive creation, Dallas doesn’t have to rely on him as a scorer, but more as a connector who does the little things that keep the team running. Though his shooting numbers from last year aren’t ideal, his most efficient spot from behind the arc last season was from the corner. He will certainly have an opportunity to improve these numbers through drives and kicks.
Ideally, Washington will be able to stay healthy and on the floor, and his jumper will improve. With injuries to Johnson, Aldama, and Lively, May might find comfort in leaning on Washington’s leadership and physicality early in the season, allowing him to carve out a position for himself.
Worst case scenario
Washington shot just 32.5% from 3-point range a year ago. The Mavericks can’t afford to lose games as a direct result of poor outside shooting like they did last season. If Washington continues to miss games for nagging injuries, he will risk losing his role to Johnson, Aldama or Marshall. The real risk is a shrinking role that can turn what was once a coveted asset for the Mavericks into an unfavorable contract that fits neither the present nor the future. Dallas has limited assets to get things right around Flagg. If things aren’t working in the first half of the season, one or two forwards may find themselves on a one-way rocket trip to the moon come Trade Deadline time.
Season goal
We’d love to see Washington play 60-plus games and get back to at least 35% from behind the arc. Everything else in his game follows from those two metrics, from his rebounding to his defense. If he can stay healthy and hit his shots at a respectable rate, then it will be hard for May to deny him a decent chunk of playing time. Maintaining his tough play and leadership through the first half of the season would be the ideal benchmark to give the Mavericks the chance to evaluate his trade market and his success alongside Flagg.
Overall
Washington provides physicality, versatility, and, most importantly, leadership. These are qualities that are hard for rebuilding teams to part with and even harder for contending teams to acquire. Washington has the opportunity to hear his name called early when the Mavericks kick off their preseason in Macao, and the version of Washington who shows up this season will be a determining factor in whether he is here for the long haul.
