Mavericks' dreadful trade 'reality' will brutally crush fans' hearts all over again

The most shocking move in Dallas Mavericks history happened about three and a half months ago when Nico Harrison decided to send Luka Doncic, Maxi Kleber, and Markieff Morris to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis and Max Christie.

This was a move that tore Mavericks fans to shreds, as everyone expected Doncic to finish his career in Dallas and lead them to an NBA Finals win just like Dirk Nowitzki did, but the sorrow within the city disappeared less than a week ago.

Last Monday night, the Mavericks won the NBA Draft Lottery, meaning they'll have the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft and the chance to draft Cooper Flagg. This was one of the only ways that Mavericks fans who were heartbroken from the Doncic trade could have some excitement again, and Flagg is poised to be an excellent fit in Dallas next season.

While the Mavs having the chance to draft Flagg next month has brought forth energy and excitement, it has also put the team into a predicament. With Dallas' frontcourt being so crowded, trading either Daniel Gafford or P.J. Washington seems inevitable at this point, and it sounds like the Mavs could be losing one of their fan-favorite bruisers over the next few months.

Mavericks may be forced to trade P.J. Washington this summer

According to NBA insider Marc Stein, Washington could end up being a player that the Mavs send elsewhere in a trade, and that would break fans' hearts all over again.

"There’s a very decent chance they’re going to explore the trade market for P.J. Washington," Stein said on the DLLS Mavs Podcast. "That is the reality."

Losing Washington would be a huge blow, as his defense, tenacity, and versatility were key elements of the Mavs' NBA Finals run in 2024, and he has been a key leader in Dallas ever since his arrival at the 2024 trade deadline. Mavericks fans have been attached to Washington ever since he stared down the LA Clippers bench in the playoffs and dominated the Oklahoma City Thunder, and trading him in exchange for guard help would be a risky move that the Mavs could end up regretting.

Even with Flagg on the roster, the Mavericks could still give Washington plenty of minutes, and this would be especially true if they traded Gafford elsewhere. Trading Gafford would allow the Mavs to play Davis at the five more often, and Washington and Flagg's ability to play the three or four makes the lineup possibilities endless for Jason Kidd.

When speaking to college coaches who coached against Flagg, one in particular liked his fit as a small forward at the NBA level better than his fit at power forward, meaning that Washington could still play big minutes at the four and even spend some time as a small-ball five if needed.

"I mean, he played the four, but he's really a three," an anonymous ACC coach told The Smoking Cuban.

Regardless of where Flagg plays, though, it seems like the Mavs are going to start him alongside Davis and Lively II in the frontcourt, meaning that Washington would likely have to come off the bench if he were to return to Dallas. This may not be something he wants to do, as he is in a contract year, and time will tell if the "reality" Stein talked about in which the Mavs shop Washington ends up happening.

Keeping P.J. Washington would be a dream come true for Dallas Mavericks fans, as you can never have too many versatile wings in the NBA, but their desperate need for a stopgap guard to fill in while Kyrie Irving recovers from his ACL tear could lead them to part with the fan-favorite forward.