P.J. Washington may not be as expendable as Mavericks fans thought

It's no secret that Dallas Mavericks team president Masai Ujiri's roster-building philosophy has almost immediately come to light. Ujiri has loaded Dallas' roster with forwards, further crowding an already frontcourt-heavy rotation. That made P.J. Washington seem like one of the franchise's most logical trade candidates. But a recent report from NBA insider Marc Stein suggests that assumption may have been wrong.

While discussing the Mavericks' potential trade candidates, Stein offered an unexpected update on Washington's future. Stein wrote, "Ujiri, for the record, is also said to be a fan of P.J. Washington despite the long-held belief among many rival teams that Washington… will remain a trade candidate."

Why P.J. Washington seemed destined to be traded

It's certainly an interesting development considering Washington has long been viewed as one of Dallas' most logical trade candidates. First, his awkward fit alongside prized rookie Cooper Flagg made him seem expendable. Then, Dallas further crowded its frontcourt by selecting Morez Johnson Jr. in the draft, seemingly making Washington even more expendable.

Thus, the 27-year-old Washington seemed like a surefire candidate to not only land on the trade block but actually be traded… and soon. With Flagg, Johnson Jr., and several other forwards crowding the rotation, Washington no longer appeared to fit Dallas' long-term roster vision.

But we've seemingly overlooked one key factor: Ujiri's affinity for wings. Even though Dallas is already three-deep at both forward spots, Ujiri just can't seem to get enough. Of course, Washington is the ideal Ujiri prototype. He's a long, rangy, two-way wing with inside-out ability.

Masai Ujiri's roster philosophy could save Washington

It's just that Washington seemed so expendable. He and Flagg posted a putrid -9.7 net rating in 1,016 minutes together last season. And, barring an unexpected change, Washington appears likely to open next season in the starting lineup alongside Flagg once again. Moreover, while Washington has been a capable shooter at times throughout his career, he didn't shoot it well enough last season (32.5 percent from three) to look like the ideal long-term fit next to Flagg.

Nevertheless, it doesn't appear Washington will be going anywhere. Even though he didn't shoot the ball particularly well last season, he remains the type of versatile, two-way forward Ujiri has long coveted. He's capable of taking defensive pressure off Flagg by matching up with the opposition's best forwards while still providing enough offensive versatility to fit alongside him.

Why Washington remains valuable to the Mavericks

Moreover, as Ujiri prefers, Washington's versatility makes him capable of lining up at three different positions. He's a natural tweener who can slide between the three and four spots, but he's also capable of playing small-ball five in a pinch, especially in closing lineups where more shooting is more pressing.

Lastly, with 34-year-old Kyrie Irving still in tow and Naji Marshall now extended for three more seasons, Washington's age might not be as much of a concern as initially believed. He's hardly a veteran on the decline at just 27 years old, but he also provides a bridge between Dallas' established players and its new core of Flagg, Johnson, and Dereck Lively II — all of whom are 22 or younger.

While Washington has seemed like a trade candidate for what feels like almost a year, his path out of Dallas suddenly looks much less certain. Never say never in the NBA, but Washington appears safe... at least for now. And if Ujiri truly views him as the type of versatile wing he's always coveted, that may not change anytime soon.

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