Mavericks now losing P.J. Washington trade as forgotten asset turns dangerous

A little over two years ago, the Dallas Mavericks made what looked like a savvy trade with the Charlotte Hornets, sending Grant Williams, Seth Curry, and a lightly protected 2027 first-round pick in exchange for P.J. Washington and a pair of second-round selections. At the time, the deal made plenty of sense. But circumstances have changed, and it doesn’t look nearly as favorable anymore.

Trading for P.J. Washington made perfect sense

When Dallas made the move to acquire the versatile Washington, they sat in eighth place in the Western Conference at 28–23. At that point, the Mavericks had been underwhelming, not quite looking like contenders despite fielding one of the NBA’s most talented backcourts in Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.

Following the acquisition (further bolstered by the arrival of Daniel Gafford), the Mavericks surged to a 22–9 finish and advanced all the way to the NBA Finals, knocking off the Los Angeles Lakers, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Minnesota Timberwolves along the way.

Washington proved to be a critical piece in that run, starting all 22 postseason games while averaging 13.0 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 2.1 three-pointers in 35.7 minutes per game. He also took on a wide range of defensive assignments, including Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Jaylen Brown.

Meanwhile, Williams put up solid numbers in Charlotte, albeit on a struggling team, while Curry saw minimal action. In Dallas, however, Washington continued to elevate his game into the 2024–25 season.

The Luka Doncic trade changed everything

He remained the connective piece that held everything together, posting a plus-4.3 net rating while delivering career-best efficiency, further validating the trade before the franchise-altering move that ultimately changed Dallas’ trajectory.

That move, of course, was the Mavericks' decision to part ways with Doncic.

Doncic wasn’t just Dallas’ best player — he was the engine everything revolved around. Washington was brought in as a hard-nosed 3-and-D forward, built to defend, space the floor, and capitalize on Doncic's wizardly playmaking and gravitational pull.

That’s not to say Washington lost all value without Doncic, but he was at his best as a complementary piece alongside him. Still, the Mavericks pressed forward, acquiring Anthony Davis in the deal, only to bow out in the Play-In Tournament months later.

Then, in the offseason, Dallas doubled down on Washington for the future, signing him to a four-year, $90 million extension. The team aimed to build a core around defense, length, and physicality, with newly drafted Cooper Flagg and Davis leading the charge.

Mavericks' early-season struggles highlight roster challenges

Nonetheless, the plan backfired almost immediately. The Mavericks stumbled out of the gate, starting 2–7 and falling to 5–15 by early December. Perhaps most strikingly, the Flagg–Washington duo proved ill-fitting: their skill sets overlapped, and the pair’s two-man net rating has been among the team’s worst.

Currently, the Mavericks sit at 25–53, eighth in the draft order, a steep fall from their 2024 NBA Finals appearance. While the 27-year-old has remained solid, averaging 14.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.0 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game, Dallas’ current rebuild has left them in a very different position — one where Washington is no longer central to the team’s long-term plans.

Perhaps worst of all is the lightly protected first-round pick Dallas sent to Charlotte to acquire the Kentucky product. “Lightly protected” is almost an understatement. It’s top-two protected, making it all but certain that the Mavericks’ 2027 first-rounder will convey to the up-and-coming Hornets.

Meanwhile, while Charlotte is on the rise, Dallas is clearly in a rebuild. The roster is in disarray, and that 2027 first-round pick would be a huge asset. The Mavericks still hold their 2026 first-rounder, but the franchise needs every draft pick it can get, especially with Flagg as perhaps the only true building block under 25 (apologies, Dereck Lively II).

The Washington trade aged from savvy to risky

From the start, the trade for Washington made perfect sense. At the time, Dallas likely didn’t give a second thought to their 2027 first-rounder, with Doncic and Irving leading the way. The Mavs probably assumed their first-round picks would consistently fall in the 20s for years to come.

Yet, the Doncic trade changed everything, and now it wouldn’t be surprising if the Mavericks spend the next few seasons in the lottery. Even with Flagg exceeding expectations as the reigning No. 1 overall pick, history shows it can take time. Cade Cunningham needed four years and Victor Wembanyama three, so there’s no guarantee Dallas will reach the postseason anytime soon.

For a trade that once looked like a massive win, the deal has quickly unraveled. While it hasn’t drawn much attention yet, if the Mavericks struggle again in 2026–27, the trade will look especially costly, particularly if the Flagg–Washington duo continues to underperform.