Rumors: Dallas Mavericks show trade interest in promising Hornets forward

Noah Weber

Miami Heat v Charlotte Hornets / Jared C. Tilton/GettyImages

As the Indiana Pacers and Toronto Raptors have engaged in serious trade talks centered around Pascal Siakam, the Dallas Mavericks may not have the assets to make a trade for him.

This may discourage fans, as adding Siakam to this team could have made them NBA Finals contenders, but their recently reported trade interest in a different player from the Eastern Conference could be the better option anyway.

According to a report by Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, the Mavericks have shown interest in trading for Charlotte Hornets forward P.J. Washington.

Rumors: Dallas Mavericks show trade interest in promising Hornets forward

He was someone who many Mavs fans wanted them to make a sign-and-trade for over the summer as he was a restricted free agent, but Dallas reportedly never showed interest in him.

It has been reported for weeks that Dallas wants to upgrade at the power forward position, and Washington could be the perfect fit next to Dereck Lively II and to start with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.

This season for the Hornets, Washington is averaging 12.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game while shooting 42.2 percent from the field and 31.0 percent from 3-point range.

Washington's scoring numbers and efficiency have dipped this season, but that could give the Mavs the perfect opportunity to make a trade for him. They can strike when his value is a bit lower, and maybe they could get away without having to give up a first-round pick.

Washington would be a good fit in Dallas due to his defensive versatility, ability to shoot off the catch, and his upside. He is only 25 years old and is a great piece for now but also for the future. His ability to play power forward and small ball center would be perfect, and the Mavs could have a building block for the future in Washington if they trade for him.

For all the latest news and rumors on the Dallas Mavericks and their potential pursuit of P.J. Washington, stay tuned.

Noah Weber

Noah Weber is the Site Expert for The Smoking Cuban, covering the Dallas Mavericks as a credentialed media member since the 2022-23 season. With a Bachelor of Science in Sports Media from Oklahoma State University, Noah has worked in sports journalism since 2019. While he's covered the Dallas Cowboys and Oklahoma State Cowboys, he has now established himself as a go-to voice for Mavericks coverage. Noah's expertise includes in-depth game analysis, social media content creation, and offering unique perspectives through his reporting. His work has been featured on major platforms such as ESPN, Bleacher Report, and Overtime. During his time at Oklahoma State, Noah won first place in the Oklahoma Broadcast Education Association Awards for a show he co-produced. Outside of covering the Mavs, Noah enjoys working out, playing basketball and Spikeball, and spending quality time with friends and family.