P.J. Washington's starting spot with the Mavericks isn't as safe as it once was

P.J. Washington has been a primary starter for the Dallas Mavericks since he was traded to the team in 2024. The versatility, defense, and shooting he provided on the wing that season helped Dallas reach the 2024 NBA Finals, and he has been one of the most consistent players on the team over the last few years. He quickly became a fan favorite, and the Mavericks rewarded him for his play by signing him to a four-year extension last summer.

The Mavericks are a different team now

Despite his immense impact over the last two and a half seasons, his spot in the starting five may not be as safe as it once was in the 2026-27 season. He has started in 137 of the 142 games he's played for the Mavericks, but things may be different as Dallas kicks off a new era.

They're no longer the win-now team that traded for him in 2024 and made the NBA Finals later that year. The Mavs are now building for the future, and everything they do runs through Cooper Flagg.

Cooper Flagg's fit with P.J. Washington is a concern

Dallas is looking to make moves that complement their 19-year-old star, and starting Washington may be a risky decision after seeing how they played together last season. Washington's shaky 3-point shooting made him and Flagg a rough on-court pairing, and Dallas could look to start someone who brings more floor spacing alongside Flagg.

Flagg's shooting wasn't great as a rookie, as he shot under 30 percent from three, and starting two players who struggle from three is a risky proposition. The Mavs obviously aren't going to bench Flagg, as he is their franchise cornerstone, making Washington's starting spot uncertain.

Why Santi Aldama could emerge as a starter

If Dallas wants to add more shooting to this starting unit, they could explore starting Santi Aldama. The Mavericks acquired the 25-year-old forward in a trade with the Memphis Grizzlies earlier this summer, and he shot 35 percent from three on 4.7 attempts per game last season. His shooting off the catch is a slight upgrade over Washington, and the size he provides on the wing at 7-foot is intriguing as well.

Aldama lines up better with Flagg's timeline, as he is only entering his sixth NBA season and is just 25 years old. Washington is nearly two and a half years older than Aldama, and with the Mavs getting noticeably younger this offseason, Aldama could line up better with their long-term plans.

Will Dallas look to go young?

While starting Aldama over Washington would be an example of Dallas leaning into their youth movement, if they really want to go young, they could consider starting Morez Johnson Jr. The Mavericks drafted him with the No. 9 pick earlier this summer, and Dallas could already be planning to start him since they spent such a high pick on him.

Johnson Jr. is 20 years old, and his defense, rebounding, energy, and versatility make him a promising long-term fit next to Flagg. His impact on winning is easily the biggest draw of his game, and the Mavericks could fully prioritize his development by making him an immediate starter.

This likely wouldn't lead to as many wins as they would get if they started Washington, but Johnson Jr. needs as much playing time as possible to grow. Starting him right away would also prevent him from getting stuck in the Mavericks' frontcourt logjam, and this would further emphasize Dallas' focus on the future.

P.J. Washington was once one of Dallas' only wings with positional size that provided versatility. A few years later, the Mavericks' wing rotation is looking like one of their strengths. Washington remains the most logical starting power forward for the time being, but don't rule out one of the Mavs' other new forwards becoming a starter.

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