The Los Angeles Lakers‘ interest in bolstering their frontcourt has primarily centered on conversations with Jonathan Kuminga. However, recent rumors also suggest that the Purple and Gold have shown some interest in Dallas Mavericks forward P.J. Washington.
For all intents and purposes, acquiring a player like P.J. Washington would be viewed far more favorably than Kuminga, mainly because of his established chemistry with Luka Doncic. To that point, the Lakers have also been criticized for not going “all-in” while pursuing him. Unfortunately, there may have been good reason for this.
During a recent episode of “Insider Notebook,” NBA insider Jake Fischer shared a disheartening update on the rumors linking the Lakers to the Mavericks forward. He stated:
“I haven’t heard any team targeting P.J. Washington for some time. Daniel Gafford has had far more trade interest, to my understanding… I really haven’t heard P.J. Washington’s name come up. Obviously, he’s been linked and connected to the Lakers time and again.”
“I mean, he’s played the best basketball of his career next to Luka Doncic, which is not something that Washington alone has experienced. But I haven’t heard that the Lakers are making any pursuit of P.J. Washington. His name just gets brought up by Lakers fans and by Mavericks fans with that trade mechanism, but nothing I’ve actually heard behind the scenes.”
On paper, P.J. Washington seems to be an ideal fit alongside Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. As a versatile forward with the athletic ability to function as a lob threat and a perimeter defender, Washington possesses all the tools to address the Lakers’ remaining roster concerns.
Unfortunately, with no legitimate conversations occurring between the Lakers and the Mavericks, this move also seems unlikely.
Can The Lakers Find An Alternative For P.J. Washington?
Although P.J. Washington solidified his position in the Mavericks’ rotation, many expected the forward to be on the trade block given Dallas’ outlook toward a rebuild. Given that the team also drafted players like Morez Johnson Jr., there was enough reason to believe he would be available in discussions.
However, recent reports indicate that Masai Ujiri has a very positive opinion of Washington. Also, given how impactful he was last season, averaging 14.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.0 blocks, and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 45.0% from the field, there was no chance the Lakers were going to pry him away.
So how do the Purple and Gold pivot from this?
Realistically, there is nothing to pivot from. As Fischer mentioned, the rumors linking the Lakers to Washington were largely untrue, as they were primarily being propagated by fans using trade machines. In light of this, Los Angeles hasn’t necessarily suffered any losses.
Still, not pursuing P.J. Washington would imply that the Purple and Gold are committing all their energies to acquiring Jonathan Kuminga. Since discussions with Kuminga’s camp have halted due to contract demands, it would be advisable for L.A. to broaden its search.
On paper, only a few players may emerge as plausible targets at this stage in the offseason. Barring Kuminga, some sources have viewed a reunion with Kyle Kuzma quite favorably. Alternatively, recent rumors have also linked the Purple and Gold with four-time NBA champion Klay Thompson, though this move remains speculative.
The Lakers are looking for a top-quality wing at a fairly affordable price, but L.A. may have to prioritize either quality or affordability at this point in the offseason. With 16 guaranteed contracts, the Purple and Gold would also be forced to cut at least two to create enough space for another addition.
Interestingly, in a recent report, Lakers insider Jovan Buha also toyed with the idea of Grant Williams becoming a trade target this summer. Although there have been no conclusive reports indicating that Williams is available in trade conversations, pursuing the 27-year-old power forward could be viewed favorably in the current context.
