The Dallas Mavericks made a major commitment Wednesday, signing forward P.J. Washington to a four-year, $90 million contract extension, according to Shams Charania of ESPN.
Washington has been a mainstay in the starting five since being traded from the Charlotte Hornets to Dallas in February 2024. However, with Dallas landing the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft and selecting Duke standout Cooper Flagg, Washington had been linked to trade rumors.
Despite the speculation, the 6-foot-7 forward is now locked in long term, and his extension ends any discussion of a trade this season. While it’s likely the 27-year-old moves to the second unit, he’ll remain a key piece for a Dallas team aiming to bounce back after missing the postseason in the 2024-25 campaign.
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Though Washington could theoretically be a trade candidate down the road, he isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Bobby Krivitsky of Forbes praised the forward and highlighted his long-term pairing with Flagg.
“His defensive versatility and effectiveness on catch-and-shoot threes will pair nicely with this year’s No. 1 overall draft pick, Cooper Flagg,” he wrote. “That tandem can now team together for the foreseeable future.”
Since joining Dallas, Washington has showcased his versatility and productivity, and he was a key contributor during the Mavericks’ playoff run in 2024. In his first full season in Dallas, the former No. 12 overall pick averaged 14.7 points, a career-high 7.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.1 blocks across 32.2 minutes per game in 57 regular-season outings.
Despite Dallas’ latest addition of Flagg, Washington figures to play a pivotal role for Dallas and is now under contract through the 2029-30 campaign.
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