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He Dallas Mavericks acquired forward PJ Washington (along with two unspecified second-round picks) from the Charlotte Hornets for Grant Williams, Seth Curry and a top-two protected 2027 first-round pick. Washington had been linked to Dallas since the 2023 offseason, and rumors about him had intensified in the days leading up to the trade deadline. The Mavericks, desperate for an upgrade on the wing, caused quite a stir with this acquisition.
Washington stands either 6’7″ or 6’8″, depending on who you ask, with a 7’2″ wingspan. While he might be a little small for a power forward, he’s still a big upgrade in that department over the vertically challenged Grant Williams. His length, in particular, will be a big help for Dallas.
After a professional season in 2022-2023 in which he averaged 15.7 points per game, Washington took a step back with the Hornets this year. Stuck behind a group of talented Hornet forwards, Washington has been relegated primarily to the bench and has struggled shooting the ball (32.4% from three). His season averages of 13.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.6 steals + blocks don’t jump off the page, but I think he’s capable of more than that.
Washington is a do-everything player: he’s an average shooter, can attack on a closeout and finish at the rim, has decent passing ability, and can guard multiple positions on defense. His athleticism is very impressive and I’m excited to see what he can do sharing the court with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. It’s a bit cliché, but the one word that comes to mind when analyzing PJ Washington is versatility; he gives the Mavericks a lot of options. He can act as a ball handler and a blocker in the pick and roll, and he can perform both tasks effectively. If Dallas wants to go small, he can work at the center position. He can competently activate the defense and also defend himself in a fall. All in all, there are many roles that he can potentially fill. It’s up to the Mavericks to figure out which ones are optimal.
From an asset management perspective, I have some reservations about this deal. Sending the 2027 first-rounder hurts a little, as Dallas can now only (potentially) trade two first-rounders this summer. And since they had to give up an unprotected 2030 pick swap to acquire Grant Williams, they essentially gave up the 2027 first and a pick swap for PJ Washington. Without a doubt, this is an excessive payment. But I’m glad the Mavericks were able to retain Josh Green, a player who is apparently valued around the league, and retained additional second-rounders in the deal. And this movement, along with the Gafford agreementwithout a doubt makes Dallas a significantly better basketball team right now.
Washington is still only 25 years old and it was evident that the situation in Charlotte was not ideal for him to thrive. He’s the type of player a cash-strapped team like the Mavericks should target. The cost was not cheap, but I think there is a high degree of probability that Washington will prosper here. And his contract is also a bargain, as for the next two seasons he will have an AAV of approximately $15 million. Overall, this was a good deal for Dallas. It’s exciting to see that the front office has a vision and is taking steps to execute it.
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