P.J. Washington has a clear opportunity to seize Mavericks' starting four spot

The Dallas Mavericks decided to load up on the wing this offseason, and while this will be helpful from a depth perspective, it raises questions about who Dusty May is going to start and play the most. One of the more intriguing minutes battles that could emerge is between P.J. Washington and new addition Santi Aldama, but Washington may already have the advantage to take the helm of Dallas' starting power forward spot.

This far into training camp, Aldama has been a limited participant due to lingering right knee discomfort from a surgery that he had back in March, and May has provided no timetable for his return.

There's a world in which Aldama could suit up for the Mavericks when they take on the Houston Rockets early tomorrow in Macao, China, but it also wouldn't be surprising if the Mavericks err on the side of caution given it's preseason, especially since the severity of Aldama's discomfort is currently unknown.

Washington and Aldama give the Mavs different looks at power forward

Aldama and Washington's per-game stats from last season are eerily similar, but they undoubtedly bring two different skill sets to the power forward spot. Aldama has historically been a more consistent shooter compared to Washington, and he's a better connective passer, as well as a more consistent finisher.

Meanwhile, Washington is a far better defender, has more chops in terms of driving to the rim in one-on-one situations, and has a more polished in-between game. It's inevitable that both Washington and Aldama are going to play solid roles for the Mavericks, but Washington probably has the advantage in terms of closing and starting games over Aldama at this juncture.

If Washington's fit with Cooper Flagg continues to be clunky, this could obviously change, but hopefully Kyrie Irving brings somewhat of a remedy to this problem. Even though there's a new regime in Dallas, new team president Masai Ujiri has already lauded Washington's size and versatility and envisions him as part of Dallas' core.

Aldama's health issues give Washington a better opportunity to start

Washington has also been a fan favorite in Dallas dating back to the 2024 NBA Finals run, and there's no doubt Mavericks fans hold him in high regard given the lack of continuity on this roster. While there's still plenty of time in preseason and training camp for this position battle to play out, Washington has a clear advantage to gain favor with May if Aldama's health issues persist.

There will inevitably be games where Aldama plays more than Washington and vice versa, but it'd be in the Mavericks' best interest if Washington assumes Dallas' starting power forward spot more often than not. Aldama can always play next to Washington as a small-ball five if extra shooting is needed, and Washington is arguably Dallas' best defender on the roster when he's fully dialed in.

Washington is in the middle of his prime at 28 years old, and knowing his mentality, he's poised to have a bounce-back season from a shooting perspective, and is going to want to prove doubters wrong amid trade rumors.

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