P.J. Washington's stance on Mavericks trade rumors shows where his loyalty really lies

For the first time in his Dallas Mavericks career, P.J. Washington has been in some trade rumors this summer. The Mavericks look completely different now than they did at the end of last season, and Washington is a player whom fans have feared could get moved before the season begins.

Dallas traded for Washington at the trade deadline in 2024, and his addition helped the Mavericks reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 2011. Washington's shooting, defense, versatility, and energy were needed on a roster searching for answers, and he has become a key member of Dallas' core and a fan favorite since then.

The Mavericks doubled down on their trust in Washington by giving him a four-year contract extension last offseason, meaning he was not eligible to be traded until this offseason. Teams have certainly shown interest in the 27-year-old forward, but Dallas has not shown much interest in trading him. They aren't shopping him by any means, and Washington is content with a future in Dallas as well.

P.J. Washington doesn't want to be traded

In an exclusive interview with Kevin Gray Jr. of DLLS Sports, Washington opened up about his offseason and excitement for next season, but the most interesting tidbit was Washington's confidence that he'll be a Maverick to begin next season.

"Super confident," Washington said. "I've had long talks with Masai, our GM, and the whole team, so, I'm super confident I'll be a Maverick. This is where I want to be, so I'm super excited to be here and can't wait to get things going."

If there was any doubt about whether Washington wanted to be in Dallas, that can officially be thrown out the window. He made it extremely clear that he wants to play for the Mavericks next season, and fans should be excited that it looks like he'll be on the team when opening night rolls around in just over two months.

Washington wants to continue what he started in Dallas

Dallas isn't just going to trade him for nothing, and the fact that Washington hopes and expects to remain with the team adds an intriguing layer to this situation as well. Teams always prefer to have players who are motivated to play for them rather than ones who are asking out, and Washington seems to want to give his all for Dallas next season.

He grew up in DFW, and he has always been excited about the opportunity to play for Dallas since they traded for him over two and a half years ago. This same excitement remains to this day, and this was overwhelmingly clear during his interview with Gray Jr.

He talked about his excitement to play in Dallas several times during this four-minute interview, and it would be a major shocker if he isn't on the team heading into next season. Washington has become one of the Mavericks' biggest leaders, as he always plays hard, regardless of the circumstance his team is in, and the trade rumors about him can be put to rest.

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