Dallas is stacked within the frontcourt. All-Star Anthony Davis is the anchor and can begin on the 4, though he’ll play clutch time minutes at heart. Derrick Lilvely II seemingly begins at heart with Daniel Gafford behind him. Then there’s No. 1 decide Cooper Flagg, who in the end goes to be an influence forward within the NBA, presumably ultimately taking part in extra of some extent forward (with Lively and Davis beginning, Flagg seemingly begins this season on the three).
Then there’s P.J. Washington. Wherever he suits in off the bench, anticipate the Mavericks to extend the contract of the restricted free agent, one thing that might occur as quickly as Friday when he first turns into extension-eligible, experiences Marc Stein at The Stein Line.
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League sources inform The Stein Line that an extension for Washington is probably going. While he’s now not an automated starter in Dallas after the Mavericks stunningly received the draft lottery in May and the suitable to choose Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 general decide, Washington solely simply turned 27 himself on Saturday and has no scarcity of admirers in entrance places of work across the league.
That extension could be for up to 4 years, $90 million, though the Mavericks will need to get him in for underneath that quantity, possibly one thing nearer to three years, $60 million.
Washington was traded to Dallas on the 2024 deadline and performed nicely off Luka Doncic, serving to the Mavericks on their 2024 Finals run. Washington averaged 14.7 factors and seven.8 rebounds a sport final season when wholesome (he performed in simply 57 video games in Dallas). At 6’7″, he is performed the 4 and an undersized 5, he is change into a steadier 3-point shooter (38.1% final season), however his protection means he could be finest suited on a contending group off the bench. We will see how he fills that position in Dallas this season.
Stein hints at a doable Washington commerce, utilizing the group’s high quality frontcourt depth to present extra rotation gamers on the wing and within the backcourt. If the Mavericks get Washington to agree to a good extension worth, loads of groups can be occupied with a doable commerce.