Lakers are in 'advanced discussions' to trade for former lottery pick

Dallas Mavericks forward P.J. Washington. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Lakers are in 'advanced discussions' to trade for former lottery pick

By Ernesto Cova | Last updated Aug 3, 2026 3:31 PM ET

The Los Angeles Lakers are looking to build their new roster around Luka Doncic.

As such, reuniting him with one of his Dallas Mavericks teammates looks like an easy call, especially if he also gives the Lakers a much-needed boost on both ends of the floor.

According to Lakers reporter Marc Jacobs, they've set their sights on P.J. Washington. More than that, a move for the two-way forward might actually be imminent.

The Lakers are trying to trade for P.J. Washington

"REPORT: The Lakers and Mavericks have reportedly had advanced discussions involving P.J. Washington. Sources say nothing is imminent, but it’s a situation to watch," Jacobs shared on X. "Los Angeles is still bent on adding key pieces to the roster."

REPORT: The Lakers and Mavericks have reportedly had advanced discussions involving P.J. Washington. Sources say nothing is imminent, but it’s a situation to watch.

Los Angeles is still bent on adding key pieces to the roster. pic.twitter.com/4SRqu3FPGO
— Marc Jacobs (@MJacobsLF) August 3, 2026

The Mavericks aren't necessarily tanking, but they would certainly benefit from letting Washington go. They'd clear some money off their books, all while opening up more minutes for rookie first-round pick Morez Johnson Jr., their first selection of the Masai Ujiri-Dusty May era.

Washington played a huge role in helping Doncic lead the Mavericks back to the NBA Finals, providing much-needed physicality in the paint and on the wing. He can stretch the floor with his shooting and play defense. While he didn't always live up to the hype as a former lottery pick, he's just the type of role player JJ Redick's Lakers need right now.

The Lakers will most likely have to part ways with Jaden Hardy and Jake LaRavia to make numbers work, but given how well Washington looked next to Doncic in Dallas, this might as well be worth it.

Ernesto Cova

Ernesto is a bilingual (English-Spanish) sports writer with over eight years of experience covering major leagues such as the NBA, NFL, and MLB. Ernesto’s work focuses on providing insightful, up-to-date coverage of sports, blending his expertise in sports psychology with a passion for analyzing player performance, team dynamics, and trade developments across various sports leagues

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