Fresh P.J. Washington trade buzz shouldn't change Mavericks' stance on him

For the first time in his Dallas Mavericks career, P.J. Washington was in trade rumors earlier this summer. This didn't come as a complete shock, as P.J.'s fit alongside Cooper Flagg was not as smooth as the team would have hoped last season. Despite this, Dallas has held onto him, with the first preseason game against the Houston Rockets just days away.

While the Mavericks have shown resistance to trading Washington, and Masai Ujiri even told him he didn't plan on trading him, NBA insider Marc Stein dropped an update on the trade buzz on Sunday night.

Teams think Mavericks aren't against trading P.J. Washington

According to Stein, "the perception among various rival teams persists that Dallas would ultimately consider offers (subscription required) for the 28-year-old since its roster features countless forwards of all sizes behind Flagg and Marshall."

Why Dallas shouldn't trade him

Teams around the league clearly don't think that Washington is untouchable, considering the Mavericks' elite depth on the wing, but just because rival teams think he could become available doesn't mean Dallas should change their stance on him. The Mavs have been hesitant to trade the 28-year-old forward ahead of his eighth season, and they should keep it that way.

Even though Dallas has a bit of a logjam in the frontcourt after adding Morez Johnson Jr., Tarik Biberovic, Zaccharie Risacher, and Santi Aldama this offseason, Washington remains the most experienced player in this group. His leadership to the young players will prove to be invaluable, as he knows what it takes to win in the playoffs and compete for an entire season.

Washington is battle-tested

Dallas traded for Washington in February of 2024, and he was a key piece in the Mavericks' run to the 2024 NBA Finals. He provided leadership, versatility, shooting, and defense for the final few months of the season, and he quickly became a fan favorite due to all of those things.

Two and a half years later, Washington remains an integral piece of Dallas' identity. He is one of the longest-tenured players on the team, and his energy has remained high.

Washington has made it clear that he hopes to remain in Dallas ahead of his third full season with the team, and for now, the Mavericks share this same sentiment.

This young core needs Washington's experience

They're going to need his experience this season. The team is much younger this season compared to last, and Washington is one of the veterans as the team enters the Dusty May era. This is a major difference from when he first came to town, as he was just 25 years old.

Things are much different now, though, as Dallas is building around Flagg and has missed the NBA Playoffs in back-to-back seasons. The Mavericks will look to get out of this funk this season, and Washington's main priority is winning. He knows how it feels to play for a losing team, as the Charlotte Hornets never made the playoffs while he was on the team, and he always does whatever it takes to put his team in the best position to win.

Whether that means standing up for his teammates, diving on the floor for a loose ball, or making a big shot from the corner, he is seemingly always ready for the big moments. These things are invaluable, and the Mavericks should value them.

Rival teams are likely going to call Ujiri about P.J., but Dallas should stand firm and keep him in Dallas.

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