Mavericks' Santi Aldama trade immediately puts fan-favorite's future in doubt

The Dallas Mavericks made their first big move since the NBA Draft last week by trading for Santi Aldama on Wednesday. The Mavericks sent AJ Johnson, along with draft capital, to the Memphis Grizzlies for the 7-foot shooter.

The former Grizzly will provide Dallas with plenty of shooting, lineup versatility, and energy, but his addition to an already-loaded roster is going to force some tough conversations.

One player who seems far more expendable after this move is P.J. Washington. Dallas has already been shopping him this summer, and the frontcourt is too crowded to keep him long-term. This is an awkward position for the fan-favorite Maverick to be in, as he may not be the team staple that he once was after the team acquired a player who plays the same position as him and is over two years younger.

There aren't enough minutes for Dusty May to hand out to Washington, Morez Johnson Jr., Cooper Flagg, Naji Marshall, Dereck Lively II, and Daniel Gafford, and a trade may be the only way to clear this logjam.

Why P.J. Washington is no longer a perfect fit in Dallas

Last season for the Mavs, Washington averaged 14.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.0 steal, and 1.1 blocks per game while shooting 45 percent from the field. The former Kentucky Wildcat remained a key piece of Dallas' starting lineup for the third season in a row, but he wasn't the same perfect fit that he once was.

Washington was brought in to play alongside Luka Doncic, an all-world creator who makes everyone around him better. Doncic created countless open looks for the 6-foot-7 forward, and he had the perfect role.

Mavs fans fell in love with his game during the 2024 NBA Playoffs, and he looked like a player who would be playing in Dallas for a long time.

The Mavericks brought the best out of him alongside Doncic, but with No. 77 gone, things have changed. They no longer have a desperate need for Washington's versatility, energy, and blend of size and length. Dallas needs more guard depth and shot creation, and neither one of these skills is Washington's specialty.

P.J. doesn't have the same open looks from long range that he once had, and his fit alongside Cooper Flagg is shaky at best. Washington's shooting is what was going to make or break his fit with Flagg, and he faltered in this area last season. He shot 32.5 percent from three on 4.2 attempts per game, a significant decline from the previous season in which he shot over 38 percent from three.

Why Aldama makes Washington expendable

Unfortunately for Washington, his fit seems redundant to what Aldama brings.

Aldama is far more malleable when it comes to players he can play with due to his shooting, and while Washington can defend better than him, Aldama is the better offensive player. He can knock down open shots, attack closeouts, score off the bounce, and provide playmaking, and Dallas' lineup will have an entirely different look when he's on the floor.

They've needed a knockdown shooter in their frontcourt for years, and that's exactly what they got with Aldama.

The already-existent Washington trade rumors are bound to heat up even more after this move for Aldama, as Aldama still has two years remaining on his three-year, $52.5 million contract. The overlap with P.J. is too drastic to ignore, and it seems like his days are numbered after Dallas made this move.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow