Mavericks' biggest weakness threatens to ignite a trade catastrophe

Ahead of the trade deadline, Anthony Davis wasn’t even considered a top trade candidate for the Dallas Mavericks. Instead, that distinction belonged to Daniel Gafford, and now, P.J. Washington, as he will officially be trade-eligible this summer. With Davis sidelined, both rose even higher on the list amid underwhelming seasons. Yet their struggles aren’t entirely their fault. Dallas’ poor guard play has been the real issue.

A roster built for Luka Doncic's strengths

Gafford and Washington were brought to Dallas to complement the franchise’s former star, Luka Doncic. One of the league’s premier offensive players, Doncic has long had defensive limitations. Surrounding him with length and athleticism was the clearest path forward, and the Mavericks did just that by acquiring Gafford and Washington at the 2024 trade deadline.

The acquisition ultimately led to an NBA Finals appearance and coincided with strong seasons from Gafford and Washington. Doncic’s otherworldly passing ability and offensive gravity created countless easy looks for both.

Yet, following Doncic’s abrupt departure, both players began to struggle, as did the franchise. Gafford and Washington performed well immediately after the move, but the growing pains set in at the start of the 2025–26 season.

Gafford’s scoring dipped below 10 points per game for the first time in four years, while Washington’s 3-point percentage fell six points from the previous season. Without Doncic in the lineup, neither player enjoyed the same easy looks, and their roles began to shift.

Growing pains without a true floor general

Still, it wasn’t all on Doncic. The Mavericks lacked a true floor general. With Kyrie Irving sidelined recovering from a torn ACL, Jason Kidd turned to 18-year-old forward Cooper Flagg to run point.

While Flagg certainly didn’t disappoint, his skill set isn’t ideal for a point guard. He’s a slashing wing who thrives when surrounded by shooters and paired with a floor general to break down defenses and set him up.

Nonetheless, this issue didn’t affect only Flagg… it also impacted Gafford and Washington. Both veterans perform best when paired with a player who can put them in the right spots, as we saw with Doncic leading the charge.

Thus came Gafford and Washington’s slow starts and their rise as trade candidates. But here’s the catch: neither should actually be on the trade block. Both are inherently valuable. Gafford is a rim-running, shot-blocking center who fits easily with complementary pieces, while Washington is the ideal 3-and-D forward, capable of taking on the opposing team’s toughest assignment on any given night.

Trading Daniel Gafford or P.J. Washington would be a costly mistake

Trading either player would be roster-building malpractice given Dallas’ current composition. The Mavericks are far from complete. As noted earlier, this roster was built around Doncic's strengths and weaknesses, not Flagg's, so the growing pains were inevitable. And, of course, Irving won’t play a single second this season.

Giving up on Gafford and Washington would be a misfire. Their struggles came through no fault of their own, occurring amid a transitional period. Gafford has even played better recently, and although Washington’s scoring has dipped in March, he’s shooting more efficiently from beyond the arc and contributing in other ways—averaging a season-high 1.3 steals per game.

Once Dallas adds a true point guard, a clearer evaluation can be made. Whether it’s when Irving returns or a lottery pick takes over, the Mavericks can finally start figuring out who fits where, with Flagg steering the ship.