There has been a good amount of talk about the Mavericks‘ front-court rotation after Dallas unexpectedly landed the no. one pick and the ability to draft Cooper Flagg.
Between Flagg, Anthony Davis, Dereck Lively II, the recently extended Daniel Gafford, and Dwight Powell, the team has a number of talented big men. Add in Naji Marshall and Caleb Martin as forwards who can play the three or four, and rotation quickly fills up.
However, P.J. Washington is not to be considered the odd man out, according to Marc Stein in a recent report for The Stein Line. It’s a sentiment shared by general manager Nico Harrison, who was bullish over the summer on the idea of Washington and Flagg sharing the floor together.
Stein writes that on Friday, Washington becomes extension-eligible, and that it’s likely that the team comes to an agreement to keep him on a long-term deal worth nearly $90MM.
Stein notes that while the newly-27-year-old Washington has admirers around the league following a productive one-and-a-half years in Dallas, including the 2024 Finals run in which he averaged 13 points, 6.6 rebounds, and hit the clutch free throws that saw the Mavs advance to the Western Conference Finals, and eventually the Finals, over the Thunder.
However, due to trade restrictions following an extension, such a deal would signify that Washington would play out the year with Dallas, regardless of what comes after, assuming the deal is for four years or has a raise higher than 20% in the first year.
Washington started all but one of his 57 games last year in Dallas, averaging 14.7 points, a career-high 7.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.1 blocks while shooting 38.1% from three.