Does P.J. Washington still have a place on the Mavs’ roster, or is it time to say goodbye?
The Dallas Mavericks find themselves with plenty of veteran presence amid the pending NBA Draft which will all but certainly net them NBA-ready 18-year-old Cooper Flagg. As is the case every Offseason, every team will either tinker with or overhaul their roster – change is basically inevitable – but Dallas is in a somewhat unique position. The team is currently built around veterans Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis, but the future clearly belongs to Cooper Flagg. So what will the cap-strapped Mavs do to build their team this offseason while they await the return of Irving early in 2026?
In the first part of this series, we took a look at Spencer Dinwiddie. Today we’ll take a view on fan-favorite P.J. Washington to see if it makes more sense to keep him in Dallas (“Love Him”) or utilize him as a valuable trade piece to fill other roster voids (“Leave Him”).
Season Recap
Washington played a key role in the Mavericks’ defensive schemes, primarily splitting time at the 3 and 4. The 6’6 Washington averaged 14.7 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. The former 12th overall pick connected on 45.3% of his shots, including 38.1% from beyond the arc, both improvements from his first half-season in Dallas. For the type of player he is, he does not get to the charity stripe quite as much as one would think, attempting only 3.5 free throws per game. Despite a few absences due to lower leg/ankle injuries this year, he showed toughness in getting back on the court when he was still clearly ailing, managing to play in 57 games. He will be 27-years-old at the start of next season.
Contract status
Washington is entering a contract year where he is set to earn $14 million before becoming a restricted free agent in the summer of 2026.
How he fits
Washington is beloved by the fan base. He is the Swiss Army Knife of the roster, able to shoot the three, drive to the hole and even set up the offense from time to time. He is a versatile defender and shares enforcer duties with Naji Marshall. He struck the unbelievable “standing on business pose” in a playoff series against the Los Angeles Clippers that will forever endear him to Mavs Nation, a single image that explains exactly who he is. He is the second-leading rebounder on the roster behind Anthony Davis.
Final verdict: Leave him
This verdict is painful and certainly not a reflection of my personal desire. Rather, it’s simply the by-product of what I think is reality – Washington is the odd man out. Being the starting small forward for a team that is about to draft a new face-of-the-franchise at the very position Washington mans is an unenviable position to be in. If by some bizarre circumstance Anthony Davis commits to playing center full time, a job he has repeatedly indicated is not his foremost desire, maybe there is a chance Washington remains in Dallas. In reality though, Davis moving to center exposes him to more wear and tear while pushing Dereck Lively to the bench full time. Neither really helps the Mavs. It’s impossible to believe Flagg comes in off the bench and unfathomable to believe Washington will move to a reserve role for the rookie, especially in a contract year. Given the cap situation, the Mavs may not be able to afford Washington next year in unrestricted free agency anyway (unless they are content with possibly blowing past the first or even second apron). With what feels like an overwhelming set of factors leading Washington to the exit, the Mavs would probably be wise to capitalize on his value now. He’s so much more than an expiring contract. His versatility would be welcome on just about any team as he enters his prime. The Mavs have limited draft capital in their control and Washington is the kind of player you could either turn into picks and/or other capable players at a position of need.
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