When are Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington expected to make their Mavericks debut?

Noah Weber

Oklahoma City Thunder v Charlotte Hornets / Jared C. Tilton/GettyImages

The Dallas Mavericks made two big moves on Thursday as they traded for Daniel Gafford in the morning and later that day traded for P.J. Washington.

Both moves fill needs that the Mavs had, and their debuts could be coming very soon.

Washington and Gafford of course didn't play on Thursday night against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

When are Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington expected to make their Mavericks debut?

Their next chance to suit up for their first game as members of the Mavs is today against the Oklahoma City Thunder. In order for Gafford and Washington to play, players in both deals on both sides have to pass physicals.

Sometimes this process can be lengthier than expected, and some players have even failed physicals causing a trade not to go through. This is an extremely rare case, but things are looking promising for Gafford and Washington to play today against the Thunder.

UPDATE: Daniel Gafford and PJ Washington will play today against the Thunder.

Today at 10:30 AM CT, Washington and Gafford have their introductory press conferences at the American Airlines Center before the game against the Thunder. Although nothing has been announced yet if they are playing or not, the fact that they are having the press conference on Saturday is a good sign.

Both players will provide the Mavs with defense and much-needed size. Gafford will become the backup center behind Dereck Lively II, while Washington will be the team's starting power forward. Washington may not be the starter right out of the gates, but he immediately becomes one of Dallas' best players.

It will be interesting to see how these two perform in Dallas, and fans are eagerly awaiting their debuts. If Gafford and Washington don't play Saturday, their next chance to suit up for Dallas is on Monday against the Washington Wizards.

For all the latest on P.J. Washington, Daniel Gafford, and the Dallas Mavericks this season, 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.