Mavericks' PJ Washington extension may force future move no fan wants to see

By all signs, the Dallas Mavericks have rounded out their roster ahead of the 2025-26 season after completing the signing of Dante Exum and extending P.J. Washington, which was the last major offseason move to be had. Not only does locking down Washington on a four-year, $90 million contract bring great value to a 26-year-old who can be a building block in Dallas' future, but by signing his extension when he did, the Mavericks can't trade Washington this coming season.

This was not only a move to lock down the long-term future of some of Dallas' core role players, but this was also a clear message by Nico Harrison that the team is fully ready to commit to his "defense wins championships" mentality. While locking down Washington for the long-term future in Dallas was no doubt a home run move by the Mavericks' front office, this move will, without a doubt, bring some future questions into consideration.

In the first year of his new contract extension, which would begin during the 2026-27 NBA season, Washington is set to make $19.8 million, and after extending Daniel Gafford earlier this summer, the Mavericks would be sneaking just over the second apron. This would not only stranglehold the Mavericks if they failed to make any moves to dodge the second apron's penalties, but it would likely mean a trade to dump salary is imminent in the next summer for the Mavericks.

Dallas may need a trade soon to dodge second-apron restrictions

As currently constructed, the Mavericks are over the second apron by $2.3 million as soon as the 2026-27 NBA season rolls around. To make matters worse, free agents Dwight Powell, Dante Exum, and Brandon Williams could all be names the Mavericks would be interested in bringing back.

With this in mind, Williams will have an opportunity to showcase why he deserves a longer contract with the Mavericks this season, and assuming he makes the most of his opportunity on the floor, the Mavericks could ultimately be forced to extend the 25-year-old. Assuming Williams plays beyond his current contract, not re-signing him would be complete malpractice, even if it means dodging the second-apron and its restrictions.

Under the NBA's new CBA rules, exceeding the second-apron essential puts a full stranglehold on any team willing to venture past that point. On top of all of the first-apron penalties, teams that exceed the second apron would not have access to the Mid-Level Exception to sign free agent players, nor be able to absorb contracts. Teams also can't trade first-round picks from seven years in advance on top of other restricting penalties that would make it hard to build a winning team or future.

Before the next offseason comes and goes, the Mavericks must make it a priority to shed some salary before it's too late in the Cooper Flagg era. The Mavericks have built an expensive lineup, and it may be hard for some fans to hear, but the Mavericks could be forced to make a consolidation trade with one of their core rotational players in the future to duck under the second apron a year from now.

Maverick fans would be quick to throw names out there that don't fit the Flagg timeline or fit what the Mavericks are building for the future, but the likelihood of getting rid of a declining contract would mean the Mavericks need to attach a future first-round pick. Caleb Martin has already been a name that has been thrown out in trade discussions since being traded to Dallas, and assuming he could bring some value back to his name, he may be a prime candidate to be dumped in the future by fans.

The Mavericks will be walking a slippery tightrope over the next year if they fail to make a salary-dumping style trade, but there is zero reason to believe that Washington won't live up to the hype of his new contract with the Mavericks.