Mavericks' most important player isn't Luka Doncic or Kyrie Irving anymore

Despite winning 11 out of 12 games heading into their quarterfinal matchup versus the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Dallas Mavericks lost 118-104 on Tuesday night, eliminating the Mavericks from the Emirates NBA Cup.

One of Dallas’ greatest strengths has been their role players' ability to create offense for themselves in this recent juncture, but the Mavericks were challenged in that department on Tuesday night after P.J. Washington and Jaden Hardy missed the game due to illness and injury.

Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving struggled to develop counters against a swarming and trap-heavy Thunder defense all game long, so the Mavericks needed their role players to step up, especially on Tuesday night.

However, outside of Naji Marshall who had 19 points off 7-11 shooting from the field in his return to action, the Mavericks looked hobbled offensively in this game, and they were looking for an extra spark all evening while dealing with some regression shooting the ball.

P.J. Washington is quietly becoming Dallas' most important player

The most likely candidate to deliver this spark would’ve been Washington if he was healthy, as the sixth-year wing has grown to become a Thunder killer in recent matchups, including the second round of last year’s playoffs. Moreover, Washington’s absence from the lineup on Tuesday night highlighted a growing development on this Mavericks team, that being that Washington is possibly the most important player on this Mavericks team as well as the third-best player on the roster.

The record speaks for itself, as the Mavericks are 1-5 in games without Washington this season, and are 15-4 in games that he’s played in. Tuesday night against the Thunder was a microcosm of Dallas’ struggles without Washington this season, as he brings an unparalleled level of defensive switchability and hustle to this Mavericks team, evidenced by his career-high 8.3 rebounds, 1.2 blocks, and 1.3 steals per game through 19 games this season.

Washington had a goal of making an All-Defensive team heading into this season, and he’s trending toward that direction currently. Washington may be the best on-ball defender from the wing position that Dallas has had since Shawn Marion, as Washington has taken his defense up a notch this season with the departure of Derrick Jones Jr. despite already being elite in last year’s playoffs.

After some early season struggles shooting the ball, Washington is starting to turn his shooting around dramatically, as he’s up to 36 percent on the season from distance. Washington has become even more dynamic on dribble drives recently as well, utilizing his floater well and using his shot-fake to create space to attack off closeouts.

In Washington’s last game versus the Thunder, he was Dallas’ main reason for winning that contest, scoring 27 rebounds and grabbing 17 rebounds. Washington really came along from a shooting perspective in the second round versus the Thunder last season, and now his impact on this Mavericks team is being seen in full scale in his second season with the team, as the Mavericks look like an entirely different team from an aggression standpoint without Washington on the floor.

Even though Washington obviously isn’t Dallas’ best player, he may be the most important because of what he brings from a defensive and rebounding perspective from the wing position, as there truly aren’t any other players on Dallas’ roster with his size and capabilities.

Olivier-Maxence Prosper could develop into a similar player as Washington one day given recent promising outings, but he’s nowhere close to as impactful as a player right now, and the Mavericks could look to address finding a backup other than Maxi Kleber at the four position this coming trade deadline.