‘A Mismatch Nightmare’: P.J. Washington, Cooper Flagg Detail What Santi Aldama Adds To Dallas Mavericks

DALLAS — P.J. Washington faced Santi Aldama as a Southwest Division opponent for two seasons while Aldama was with the Memphis Grizzlies. Friday night, the two shared the floor for the first time in Aldama’s Dallas Mavericks debut, a 112-100 win over the Utah Jazz at American Airlines Center.

Aldama finished with 8 points and 9 rebounds in 13 minutes, 3 seconds. Dallas was plus-17 in his minutes. Washington, who scored 26 points, said there are not many players who can guard a 7-footer who plays both inside and on the perimeter.

“Oh, it’s great. I mean, he’s a mismatch nightmare,” Washington said. “Obviously, being seven foot, it’s not a lot of guys that can guard him. He can play on the perimeter. He can play inside. So I think he’s just a mismatch nightmare for us, and I can’t wait to utilize him in a lot of different ways.”

“He’s a great player. He’s smart out there as well, so it’s definitely fun playing with guys like that,” Washington continued.

P.J. Washington, Morez Johnson Jr. On Sharing The Floor With Aldama

Aldama checked in with 8:03 left in the second quarter and Dallas trailing 40-35. His first points came on a tip-in, and on the next Dallas possession, his pass set up a Washington 3-pointer that cut Utah’s lead to 42-40. Three of his 4 offensive rebounds came in that quarter.

“I love him. I love him. I’ve been telling everybody I didn’t realize he was this tall. He’s all of seven foot,” Washington explained. “But I mean, I think he’s a great player for us. Obviously, he was killing it on the offensive glass tonight. He can shoot, he can stretch the floor, he can play multiple positions on the defensive end. So I think he’s a great addition for us, and I’m super excited to have him back.”

Morez Johnson Jr., Aldama, Washington, Walter Clayton Jr., and Naji Marshall shared the floor for the first 3:06 after Aldama checked in. Dallas outscored Utah 9-5 over that stretch, and Washington’s second free throw right after it tied the game at 45.

Johnson and Aldama can stretch defenses by picking and popping, in Johnson’s view.

“This is like the first time we actually played together,” Johnson said. “We have space on the floor like that, and we picking and popping sometimes, just making the defense have to decide whether they want to drop or to switch everything.”

Johnson finished with 13 points and 17 rebounds. Cooper Flagg said Aldama’s return gives Dallas another big who can space the floor, alongside Johnson and Daniel Gafford.

“I think like Rez said, just having Santi back is gonna make the defense have to choose what they want to do,” Flagg said. “Having him and Santi out there picking and popping, quicker, quick actions. Two very athletic guys. I mean, with Gaff too. So I think just throwing more and more looks at them.”

“We got guys that are really, really big and can space the floor,” Flagg continued. “I think Santi’s just gonna add some more of that, and it’s gonna be really good for us.”

Dusty May Calls Aldama An Elite Connector

Before tip-off, Mavericks coach Dusty May said Aldama’s workload would be an in-game decision. In the third quarter, Aldama scored on a cutting layup off a Clayton pass that made it 83-73.

At Friday’s shootaround, May said, everything looked a little bit better with Aldama on the floor. The staff had seen Aldama with Dallas’ two-way players and in the video room, but not with the regular rotation.

“We had a gut feel. We hadn’t really seen Santi play with our guys yet,” May said. “He’s played with the two-ways and the video room and things like that. And even today in shootaround … I just looked out and thought, wow, everything looks a little bit better with Santi because he’s such a good cutter.”

“He’s such a good decision maker. He stretches the defense with the spacing, so he’s just one of those guys that he’s an elite connector, but he’s also a good decision maker with the ball in his hands,” May detailed. “And I thought he guarded well tonight, in addition to that.”

Last season, Aldama averaged career highs of 14.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists across 43 games for Memphis. Dallas acquired him in a six-team trade on July 8, and he missed the first eight games of this season after March surgery on his right knee.

The Mavericks are 5-4 and host the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday at American Airlines Center, with tip-off set for 6:30 p.m. CT.