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In an exclusive interview with Dallas Mavericks forward P.J. Washington, Kevin Gray Jr. of DLLS Mavs got the inside scoop on the Dallas native and his thoughts on the upcoming season. Washington has been at the forefront of trade rumors this offseason as the Mavericks look to retool around Cooper Flagg. The quick interview hit on some big offseason topics, including his local training camp, Kyrie Irving’s comeback, and, most importantly, his future in Dallas. Here are the highlights of how Washington is approaching next season. The full interview can be found here.
Ujiri loves forwards
It’s no secret P.J. Washington has been one of the more widely speculated names to be in trade discussions for the Mavs. After all, he played a pivotal role for Dallas in its run to the NBA Finals in 2024 and has proven to be a threat on both sides of the ball. In 56 games last season, the 27-year-old averaged 14.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 2.1 stocks (steals + blocks). His athleticism and versatility make him one of the more sought-after forwards in the league.
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We may not want to admit this, but new team president Masai Ujiri somewhat shares Nico Harrison’s vision of a team built primarily on forwards. After helping the Toronto Raptors win its only championship in 2019, Ujiri was let go by the organization shortly after the 2025 NBA draft. Ultimately, he found a new home in Dallas less than a year later. But there are some unique characteristics about that 2019 Raptors team, a few of which this same Mavericks team has.
Ujiri loves defensive-minded, athletic forwards. His draft history proves it. Some of his most notable picks include Pascal Siakam (27th overall in 2016), O.G. Anunoby (23rd overall in 2017), and Scottie Barnes (4th overall in 2021). His admiration for two-way forwards proved itself in the Mavericks selecting 6’9 forward Morez Johnson. Jr. in the 2026 NBA draft. Dallas’s forward depth is about as deep in the NBA as it gets: P.J Washington, Naji Marshall, Zaccharie Risacher, Caleb Martin, Morez Johnson Jr., Tobi Lawal, Santi Aldama, Tarik Biberovic, Sergio De Larrea, and of course Cooper…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/p-j-washington-dismisses-trade-171225242.html
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Publish date : 2026-08-17 17:12:00
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