Dallas Mavericks Expected to Sign P.J. Washington to Extension

The Dallas Mavericks are expected to sign P.J. Washington to an extension, according to NBA insider Marc Stein of The Stein Line.

Washington becomes eligible Friday for a new four-year deal just shy of $90 million.

“League sources tell The Stein Line that an extension for Washington is likely,” Stein wrote. “While he is no longer an automatic starter in Dallas after the Mavericks stunningly won the draft lottery in May and the right to select Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 overall pick, Washington only just turned 27 himself on Saturday and has no shortage of admirers in front offices around the league.

“With an annual salary that comes in at lower than $25 million, Washington would certainly still rank a player coveted by rival teams … but it’s important to note that he would be ineligible to be dealt for six months after signing the extension provided that any new deal inked stretches beyond three seasons or features a raise higher than 20% in Year 1 from his 2025-26 salary of $14.2 million. Washington thus appears likely to spend all of Flagg’s rookie season as his teammate in Dallas no matter what.”

Washington appeared in 57 games for the Mavericks last season. He averaged 14.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.1 blocks while shooting 45.3% from the field, 38.1% from beyond the arc and 72.2% from the free-throw line.

The Mavericks acquired Washington from the Charlotte Hornets during the 2023-24 season. Washington helped Dallas reach the 2024 NBA Finals, where the Boston Celtics beat the Mavericks in five games.

The 27-year-old Washington enters next season with career averages of 13.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocks. He was the 12th overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft out of Kentucky.

The Mavericks are expected to start D’Angelo Russell, Klay Thompson, Cooper Flagg, Anthony Davis and Daniel Gafford to begin next season. Once Kyrie Irving returns from his ACL injury, he will replace Russell in the starting lineup.

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