The Dallas Mavericks were one of the most active teams during the NBA trade deadline, sending out multiple players and two first-round picks to acquire PJ Washington and Daniel Gafford to bolster the team’s frontcourt. Players like Gafford and Washington fit the archetype of what Dallas needed, which has also pleased Luka Doncic.
Doncic commented on the acquisitions after the win over the Knicks, remarking about how he’s wanted a backup center for three years and he finally gets it.
“I think we’ve got two really good players. We added some size to our team. We added a backup center, which I wanted [for] like three years already. So, I think both players really going to help us out a lot.”
Luka Doncic on trade additions of P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford: "I think we've got two really good players. We added some size to our team. We add a backup center, which I wanted [for] like three years already. So, I think both players really going to help us out a lot."
— Grant Afseth (@GrantAfseth) February 9, 2024
Doncic dropped 39 points, eight rebounds, and 11 assists in a win in MSG over the Knicks. This extends the Mavs’ current win streak to three as they try to make up for lost ground in the race for the top six.
Gafford is averaging 10.9 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks for the Wizards. He will now compete with 19-year-old rookie center Dereck Lively II for a starting spot in Dallas, but both players will likely get similar minutes over a game to keep a consistent lob threat on the court, something Luka excels with. The Mavs have multiple other lob throwers on the roster, giving the team much-needed vertical spacing.
Washington is averaging 13.6 points and 5.3 rebounds for the Hornets. While he’s had his ups and downs on an uncompetitive Charlotte roster, PJ provides a major upgrade in size and athleticism in Dallas’ front court. He can attack the rim, has playmaking chops, can stretch the floor, and brings speed with a 7’2″ wingspan to be the new starting power forward of the Mavs.
Did The Mavericks Overpay?
Dallas sent out Grant Williams, Richaun Holmes, and Seth Curry in the deals with Washington and Charlotte. In addition, they sent their 2027 first-round pick (top two protected) to the Hornets while giving the OKC Thunder a 2028 first-round pick swap to send a 2024 first-round pick to the Wizards. They also received two second-round picks from the Hornets.
Holmes and Curry were fringe rotational players and weren’t an integral piece to their success this season. Williams was a marquee summer addition by Dallas but he hasn’t been able to provide the team with consistent shooting or defense, the two things they expected him to add. Both the players they acquired are upgrades on the ones that left, with Dallas also protecting young assets like Josh Green, Jaden Hardy, and Olivier-Maxence Prosper.
Williams joked about how easy it was to play alongside Doncic just two days ago and will now have to play in Charlotte.
Dallas will still have four tradeable picks in the summer and are committed to rebuilding around Luka. The overall cost of this trade is rough when you see Dallas gave up a first-round pick swap to acquire Grant in the summer. But pivoting when they knew it wouldn’t work is an incredibly smart move by Nico Harrison and the front office.
The Mavericks have a formidable 10-man rotation to rely on, provided players stay healthy. Dallas is the only team above .500 in the NBA to have no combination of five players play 100 minutes together. This has been due to injuries across the roster. Adding Washington and Gafford to bolster the playable depth should reap rewards, as the Mavs look more dangerous in the West now than they did yesterday.
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