Mavericks should consider this heartbreaking P.J. Washington trade opportunity

It is without question that multiple players on the Dallas Mavericks roster outside of Cooper Flagg should be expendable this summer, as the team is set to build around the 19-year-old phenom from Duke. This includes P.J. Washington, who has struggled to fit with Flagg, and his injuries have piled up. One alternative could be sending Washington to the Oklahoma City Thunder, especially since the reigning champions have significant draft capital to offer.

Washington is a name to keep an eye on, as he could become a trade target for Oklahoma City. It's a trade scenario Dallas should consider, even if it would be heartbreaking to split up with one of the remaining players from their 2024 NBA Finals squad.

A trade like this would make sense for both teams, as the Mavs could rebuild using draft capital and get Washington off their books before his four-year extension kicks in. The Thunder would benefit by adding more wing depth, positional size, and versatility.

Before the beginning of last season, P.J. Washington's fit with Cooper Flagg had already come into question, as Dallas drafted a player who played the same position as him. His surge of injuries didn't do him any favors, either. Dallas, though, signed Washington to a four-year, $90 million extension with a trade restriction that prohibited the team from trading him till March.

Why trading P.J Washington is the right move

Washington has been a vital part of the Mavericks' roster the past two and a half seasons. He played a major role in helping Dallas advance to the 2024 NBA Finals, as Washington helped turn the team's defense around. His presence helped the Mavs beat the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round, especially due to his hot 3-point shooting and hard-nosed defense.

However, since his hot start, Washington has struggled to win over Dallas' fans. One gripe has been a decline in his 3-point shooting. Last season, he shot 32.5 percent from long range. This was a 5.6 decline from the season before. One part of his slump could be attributed to the Luka Doncic trade, as the former Mavs helped open up the floor for Washington.

Another part of Washington's struggles, though, was his growing list of injuries. He missed 26 games last season, dealing with multiple injuries, including ankle sprains and shoulder and elbow injuries.

Plus, Washington has struggled to fit next to Cooper Flagg. His skills are redundant to Flagg. It has created a defensive overlap. Not to mention, Dallas already has an abundance of forwards on the squad, and Washington isn't a good enough shooter to fit well in the frontcourt with Flagg.

It makes sense why the Mavericks should consider trading Washington. While getting rid of him would hurt due to fans' attachment to him from the 2024 Finals run, trading him to the Thunder specifically would be even more heartbreaking due to the team's former rivalry.

How the Mavericks can benefit from trading Washington to OKC

The Thunder currently owns two first-round picks in the draft. They have the 12th and 17th selections. They also have multiple first-round picks in 2027. OKC has a ton of draft capital to offer in the future, and with their standing in the West, it would make sense for them to trade some of these picks.

This would be an ideal solution for a team like the Mavericks, as they are looking to rebuild around Flagg. If they could create a P.J. Washington trade with the Thunder, it would allow them to bring in young players and obtain draft picks for the future. There is also the possibility that Dallas could acquire another first-round pick ahead of the draft.

Dallas could also capitalize on a Washington-Thunder trade by acquiring someone like Cason Wallace. He is a two-way player who would help improve the Mavs' offense with his 3-point shooting. Fans saw a glimpse of his hot shooting in the Western Conference Finals when he made it rain against the San Antonio Spurs.

So, the possibilities are endless when it comes to trading Washington to the Thunder. It's a heartbreaking move fans would hate to see. Both teams, though, would benefit as Dallas could regroup and build a future contender.

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