Mavericks’ secret weapon is set to take Sixth Man of the Year race by storm

As soon as the Dallas Mavericks drafted Cooper Flagg, it was clear that P.J. Washington's role may change next season. Washington has been one of the team's starting forwards for the last two seasons, but since he and Flagg play the same position, this could force him to embrace a new role and move to the bench.

This isn't to say that Flagg and Washington can't play together, as Nico Harrison and Washington himself are confident that they can form a strong on-court duo, but assuming Jason Kidd starts D'Angelo Russell, Klay Thompson, Flagg, Anthony Davis, and Dereck Lively II to begin the year, Washington is going to be in the perfect position to become one of the best bench players in the league next season, and he should be in the hunt for Sixth Man of the Year.

Last season for Dallas, Washington averaged 14.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game while shooting 45.3 percent from the field and 38.1 percent from downtown, proving that he is one of the most valuable players on the team who is built for any situation. Every team needs a P.J. Washington, and things have been different in a good way ever since he came to town.

P.J. Washington's impact won't fade, even on the bench

Even though Washington will likely move to the bench, he will still play a major role in Dallas' success, as he has quietly been one of the team's biggest X-factors ever since they traded for him at the 2024 NBA trade deadline. He and Daniel Gafford helped give the Mavericks the momentum they needed to turn their season around and make the NBA Finals, and while he may not be in the starting five anymore, his impact is still going to be needed every single night.

Washington, Flagg, and Davis (depending on how you feel about where Davis plays at his best between power forward and center) are the team's only true power forwards, and Washington's minutes per game may creep toward the 32.2 mark that he reached last season, even from the bench. He hasn't played less than 30 minutes per game since the 2021-22 season, and that streak likely isn't going to end now, even with Flagg in town.

Despite Washington potentially coming off the bench, it seems likely that he will be in the team's closing lineup alongside Russell, Thompson, Flagg, and Davis, as they'll need his versatility, 3-point shooting, rebounding, strong defense, and energy during crunch time. Washington never shies away from the big moment, as shown by his utter domination of the Oklahoma City Thunder over the last year or so, and he became a playoff hero for Dallas when they needed it most on their way to the 2024 NBA Finals.

He is never afraid to stand up for his teammates when needed, and his grit has helped make him a fan favorite in Dallas despite only being on the roster for a season and a half. His iconic "standing on business" staredown at the LA Clippers' bench in the first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs turned him into a Mavericks legend, and his potential new role off the bench could end up being a good thing for him.

As a bench player, Washington will have the chance to get used to playing with nearly every player on the roster, and he'll always be ready to go when Kidd needs him. He can easily become a spark plug for Dallas, as he'll inject energy into his teammates and the crowd every time he steps onto the floor, and his major role as a bench player should help make him a favorite for Sixth Man of the Year alongside players like Payton Pritchard and Naz Reid.

Since 2012, only two non-guards have won the Sixth Man of the Year award (Montrezl Harrell in 2020 and Reid in 2024), and Washington could be a breath of fresh air to see a non-score-first guard win the award. He is different from most Sixth Man of the Year candidates, as he makes his impact felt through hustle plays, rebounding, physicality, and being a glue guy, and with his role still projected to be as big as it was last year, Mavs fans should him to be a finalist for the coveted award that goes to the best bench player in the NBA.