P.J. Washington's Mavericks future could be decided quickly as trade buzz heats up

While the Dallas Mavericks prefer not to trade P.J. Washington, recent rumors indicate that teams around the league believe Dallas could consider trading him due to the team's surplus of depth on the wing. Trade buzz surrounding Washington is heating up just before the season begins, and he has plenty of competition for frontcourt minutes.

The Mavericks brought in Morez Johnson Jr., Santi Aldama, Zaccharie Risacher, and Tarik Biberovic this offseason, and considering that they all can play power forward, Washington needs to separate himself from the pack to prove Dallas shouldn't trade him.

Mavericks look different from when they first traded for P.J. Washington

The beginning of the regular season will be a massive test for him, and the first few months could be what separates Washington from remaining a key piece of the Mavericks' core or turning into a valuable trade piece. He is the clear-cut best player in that group, and he has been on the team for 2.5 seasons, but his spot shouldn't be considered guaranteed anymore.

The Mavericks are now building around Cooper Flagg, and their vision is significantly different from the one they had when they originally traded for Washington in 2024. Dallas was pushing for the NBA Finals as soon as possible at that point, but now they are on Flagg's timeline.

Masai Ujiri and Mike Schmitz are not rushing things, as they want to take every step necessary to build a contender around Flagg. If this means trading Washington, they could do it, especially if he struggles at the beginning of the regular season later this month and gets outplayed by someone like Risacher or Aldama.

Every team needs a player like P.J.

Dallas could easily get good value back in a trade if they were to shop Washington, as he is the type of player that every playoff team needs. At 6-foot-7 with a 7-foot-2.5 wingspan, P.J. has the ideal build for a switchable wing who plays with versatility and energy.

His addition helped the Mavericks reach the NBA Finals in 2024, and playoff teams from around the league have to be thinking that he could have a similar impact if they were to trade for him. Washington took his play to the next level during the playoffs that year, and role players who are playoff risers are some of the most valuable players to have.

Washington must prove he belongs

His leadership is going to be key for the Mavs as they kick off the Dusty May era, but he has to prove that he belongs. Dallas' new front office has no prior allegiance to Washington, as Nico Harrison is the one who traded him in 2024, and Washington has to show Ujiri and Schmitz that he still belongs.

Being a strong fit with Flagg, knocking down open shots, and taking care of the ball should all be priorities for Washington as he enters his eighth season, and these could be the type of things that keep him in Dallas or send him packing.

The start of the season will be a test for everyone, and every game matters as Ujiri and Schmitz evaluate their new roster. If Washington has a strong start to the season and proves that he still fits with their new core, he could be safe from being traded. If not, the Mavericks could look to cash in and get the best value possible.

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