DSJ Quick Take: Masai Ujiri Is a Fan of P.J. Washington Amid Trade Speculation
Mavericks president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri is said to be a fan of P.J. Washington, even as rival teams continue to view him as a trade candidate. Washington is signed through 2029-30.
- Who’s in Washington’s corner? Ujiri, according to Marc Stein, despite a long-held belief around the league that Washington stays a trade candidate.
- Who else is viewed that way? Daniel Gafford and Klay Thompson, both grouped as fellow Nico Harrison acquisitions.
- Why is his spot uncertain? Dallas has a crowded frontcourt and wing rotation competing for the same minutes.
- What has he given Dallas? Averages of 13.9 points and 7.1 rebounds across his Mavericks tenure, plus 13.0 points and 6.6 rebounds during the 2024 NBA Finals run.
DALLAS — Dallas Mavericks veteran P.J. Washington is getting used to hearing his name in trade speculation, but it sounds like he may have an important factor working in his favor if he hopes to stay where he’s at.
According to a report from NBA insider Marc Stein, Mavs president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri is said to be a “fan” of Washington.
“Ujiri, for the record, is also said to be a fan of P.J. Washington despite the long-held belief among many rival teams that Washington — like fellow Nico Harrison acquisitions Daniel Gafford and Klay Thompson — will remain a trade candidate,” Stein wrote.
Washington’s situation is tricky. Although he’s under contract with the Mavs on a deal that takes him through the 2029-30 season, Dallas has a lot of bodies who can compete with him for minutes. The franchise is going to have to figure out what it wants its rotation to look like and perhaps adjust accordingly.
P.J. Washington’s Dallas Mavericks Tenure
The former lottery pick came over to the Mavs in a trade during the 2023-24 campaign. He certainly left his mark after coming over that season, as he held down a starting role during the team’s run to the NBA Finals. He averaged 13.0 points and 6.6 rebounds per game in the playoffs.
Washington has maintained a starting role in the seasons that have followed, though he has battled availability woes at times. He appeared in just 57 games two seasons ago and 56 games last season.
Overall in his Mavs tenure, he has averaged 13.9 points and 7.1 rebounds per game while shooting 44.6% from the field and 34.3% from deep. He has shown more promise than that as a 3-point shooter but is coming off a season in which he hit just 32.5% of his triples.
What Comes Next for P.J. Washington
Washington will turn 28 later this month, so it’s a safe bet that he has plenty of productive seasons ahead of him. The question is whether the Mavs see him as a long-term fixture in their rotation, including once their winning window starts to open up.
The fact that he seems to have a fan in Ujiri certainly helps his cause.
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