Mavericks set for painfully obvious P.J. Washington move if new rumors are true

The Dallas Mavericks are looking to extend P.J. Washington ahead of next season if the new rumors are true.

According to NBA insider Marc Stein, Washington receiving an extension (subscription required) from the Mavericks this summer is "likely." It has been known for some time that Washington would probably get a contract extension from Dallas, and he has earned every penny that the Mavericks are about to give him.

Dallas acquired Washington in a trade with the Charlotte Hornets at the 2024 trade deadline, and he surpassed all expectations almost immediately. Washington's addition, along with Daniel Gafford, helped the Mavericks reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 2011, and his playoff performance was one for the books.

P.J. Washington's Dallas future may already be decided

Washington single-handedly dismantled the Oklahoma City Thunder with his 3-point shooting, defense, and grit, and he became a Dallas hero in front of everyone's eyes. Outside of his incredible series against the Thunder, he also had an iconic series against the LA Clippers due to his unforgettable "standing on business" staredown and laughing in Russell Westbrook's face in the middle of a scuffle.

Washington's fit on and off the floor has been an incredible fit in Dallas, and the Mavericks are about to go all-in on their two-big plan.

Washington's new extension is eligible to be worth up to four years and $89 million, and Mavs fans should be thrilled at this number. Around 22 million each year for a player of Washington's caliber is a massive steal, and this new extension would almost ensure that he will remain in Dallas for the entirety of the 2025-26 season.

Since Washington's new extension would be for more than three years, he would be ineligible to be traded for six months, meaning he would remain on the Mavericks through the trade deadline. Washington has been a player who fans have speculated could be traded since he plays the same position as Cooper Flagg, but as things look now, Washington is going to accept his new role with open arms.

He'll likely become the Mavericks' sixth man to begin the year, as the most likely starting lineup looks like it'll be D'Angelo Russell, Klay Thompson, Flagg, Anthony Davis, and Dereck Lively II, and the league isn't going to be ready for this version of Washington. He is bound to be one of the leading candidates for Sixth Man of the Year, and he'll likely still end up being in the team's closing lineup.

He is still going to play a major role despite Flagg taking over the starting spot, and Mavs fans are going to be ecstatic that he will likely be in Dallas through the 2029-30 season. Washington has become a Mavericks staple, and if the new rumors about him remaining in Dallas on a four-year extension are true, he is going to continue his reign as the team's enforcer, lockdown defender, hustle guy, and leader for years to come.

His development as a player on both ends of the floor since joining the Mavs has been evident, and he should only continue to grow as he inks a new four-year extension to remain with his hometown team.