Mavericks expected to lock in PJ Washington despite crowded frontcourt

The Mavericks have more big men than they know what to do with. Cooper Flagg went No. 1 overall. Anthony Davis is the returning star. Dereck Lively II continues to develop, Daniel Gafford just got extended, and Dwight Powell is still hanging around.

Add in forwards like Naji Marshall and Caleb Martin, and the frontcourt rotation is jam-packed.

But P.J. Washington isn’t getting squeezed out.

According to Marc Stein of The Stein Line, Washington becomes extension-eligible Friday, and the expectation is that he and the Mavericks will agree to a new deal in the neighborhood of $90 million.

Dallas GM Nico Harrison has already voiced confidence that Washington can thrive alongside Flagg, and league chatter suggests the Mavs see him as a long-term piece rather than a trade chip.

That matters because a new extension would all but guarantee Washington stays in Dallas through the season, thanks to trade restrictions tied to raises above 20 percent in the first year of a deal.

Washington, who just turned 27, has built a strong case since arriving in Dallas. He started 57 games last season, averaging 14.7 points, a career-high 7.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.1 blocks while hitting 38.1 percent from deep.

He also played a key role in the Mavericks’ Finals run of 2024, including averaging 13 points and 6.6 rebounds in the postseason and knocking down clutch free throws that helped Dallas escape the Thunder in the West semifinals.

So while the Mavs’ rotation looks loaded, Washington isn’t going anywhere, it seems, and Dallas seems ready to put real money behind that stance.

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