Mavericks trade rumor hints at rough fit around Cooper Flagg fans saw from a mile away

The second that the Dallas Mavericks drafted Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, fans immediately doubted P.J. Washington’s long-term fit with the new franchise cornerstone. Flagg is at his best on the wing, like Washington, and fans knew that their fit would be a major talking point during Flagg's rookie season.

Less than a year later, Washington is appearing in trade rumors.

P.J. Washington officially appears in early trade rumors

NBA insider Marc Stein dove into the newest rumors surrounding the Mavericks last week, and less than a year after signing him to a four-year, $89 million extension, Dallas is fine with trading the former Kentucky Wildcat (subscription required).

“Klay Thompson, P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford, as we speak, are the veterans that the Mavericks are seen as most open to trading,” Stein reported.

Washington went from a hero to expendable in two years

Dallas obviously isn't making Washington untouchable this summer, and these are the first official trade rumors that he has been included in since being traded to the Mavericks at the trade deadline in 2024. He was a key piece in Dallas' run to the NBA Finals in 2024, and it seemed like he could be a long-term player on the Mavericks after his heroics.

He "stood on business" against the LA Clippers in the first round and averaged 17.7 points per game while shooting 46.9 percent from 3-point range against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round. Washington became the Thunder's kryptonite that postseason, and given his Dallas roots, this seemed like the beginning of a long career playing in the Lone Star State.

He was an excellent fit next to Luka Doncic, but with Flagg as Dallas' new showman, his fit is far more complicated. Washington and Flagg play the same position, and his shooting is a glaring question mark that the Mavericks can't afford to bet on. He shot 32.5 percent from three last season after shooting 38.1 percent the season prior, and Dallas plummeted to the team with the fifth-worst 3-point percentage in the NBA last season.

With Flagg's shooting already being a work in progress, allocating nearly $90 million to a player who has a redundant skill set as him is a major risk. This could be a major reason that Dallas is open to trading him now.

Why Mavericks fans aren't surprised

Last season, the Mavericks were not allowed to trade the 6-foot-7 forward. The extension he signed in September activated a six-month trade restriction, meaning Dallas had to hold onto him through the trade deadline and into this offseason.

Despite this, Mavericks fans knew the writing was on the wall for Washington following last season. He struggled to stay healthy for the second year in a row, had one of the worst long-range shooting seasons of his career, and was an awkward on-court fit with the new king of Dallas. These were all concerning signs for P.J., and many fans knew that some trade rumors would emerge this summer.

Stein reporting that Washington is one of the three veterans that Dallas is the most open to trading shouldn't be a shock to anyone, as Masai Ujiri has made it clear that every move that the Mavericks make moving forward will be future-based. Building a contender around Flagg is the organization's No. 1 priority, and Ujiri and Mike Schmitz aren't obligated to keep anyone on this roster.

This is their team now, and with Washington turning 28 years old before the start of next season, the Mavericks may be better off trading him for draft capital and/or a young asset rather than betting on him fitting with Flagg. Dallas is a ways away from contending, and a mini-rebuild may be the best path forward for a team still trying to recover from the aftershock of the Luka Doncic trade.

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