At the time, trading a pick was risky. Now, it seems like the Mavericks’ “all-in” move was done at a discount.
When the Mavericks traded for P.J. Washington at the trade deadline in February, there were no reservations about his fit on the court. His time in Charlotte proved that he was a capable scorer with a body akin to players who play elite-level defense. The Mavericks desperately needed size and defense at the time, so this trade in a vacuum made sense. What was concerning at the time was the fact that Dallas gave up the final first-round pick that they had access to (2027, top-two protected) in a deal for a role player that they potentially could have signed the prior off-season. When the trade went down, Dallas was 4-6 in their last ten games, 22nd in defensive rating, and still had the bad stench of poor asset management from years past. It seemed like an overpay and panic move when it was announced, but after just two months, there is no doubt that the Mavericks got what they paid for.
So what exactly did they pay? Well, they gave up Seth Curry, Grant Williams, and the aforementioned first-round pick. Curry was out of the rotation and Williams was directly replaced by Washington. The pick was the “meat” of the trade, so to understand Washington’s value, the value of that pick has to be defined. A draft pick can be used in one of two ways: to select a player or to use in a trade. If Dallas used it to select a player, that probably would not be of much value to them, considering Luka Doncic is ready to win now and a rookie in three years does them no good considering the implications of them needing to use a first-round pick in three years. The real value for the Mavericks came with the prospect of bundling this pick with the two others that would open up for trade in the summer to acquire a third star next to Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. Washington’s acquisition closed the book on that fantasy, but you hardly need fantasy when the reality is much better.
After Friday’s game three win, Dallas is now 23-9 when Washington plays, including the playoffs. He is averaging 13 points, six rebounds, two steals, and a block in the postseason, and has the Mavericks up two games to one in their best of seven with the Clippers. Dallas is +28 with him on the floor in the series after they were +96 with him on the floor in March and April in 22 games. His production in terms of scoring is not always there, but the plus/minus and team record says it all: the Mavericks are better with him in the lineup. Despite his career percentages, he has a good jump shot. In his last 10 games including the playoffs, he is shooting almost 38 percent from three. His handle is good for a guy his size but with an offseason working alongside God Shammgod, he could add a pull-up jumper as well. Not to mention his defense, which is at worst, very good, and at best, All-Defense caliber. His skill set is that of any player Dallas could have selected with the first-round pick and his fit on the team is as good as any third star could have had.
Outside of the numbers, Washington is an immaculate “vibes” guy. He plays his role, has the respect of his teammates, and now, according to our own Matt Martinez, has become a folk hero in Dallas. He has toughness, as displayed in his feuds with Terance Mann and Russell Westbrook Friday night. He does not back down from any challenge, which is key for the guy tasked with guarding the other team’s best forward on a nightly basis. While he is invaluable on the court, these intangible qualities are what make his value exceed that of what he was traded for. Any potential first-round pick or third star right now is purely a hypothetical figure. The intangibles cannot be quantified because they don’t exist yet. The NBA is not a video game, sometimes players’ personalities, drive, or even on-court fit are not what the team was expecting them to be. Washington’s impact on the court, in the locker room, and on the fanbase is real and fits Dallas’ needs perfectly. The reason he is worth two players, a pick, and probably, even more, is not because of what those assets could have been, it’s because of what Washington is right now.
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