​The Dallas Mavericks’ frontcourt situation has suddenly become crowded and complicated, casting serious doubt on the future of a $90 million forward who once seemed secure in Dallas. The shift started in the offseason with two notable moves that quietly transformed P.J. Washington from a franchise fixture into a potential trade chip. In the 2026 NBA Draft, Dallas opted to pass on an opportunity to bolster their backcourt and instead selected a physical Michigan big man, Morez Johnson Jr., with the No. 9 overall pick. A few days later, the front office engineered a six-team blockbuster that brought Memphis Grizzlies forward Santi Aldama to Dallas and secured the draft rights to Tarik Biberovic. To land the 7-foot stretch big, the Mavericks sent out young guard AJ Johnson, a top-20 protected 2030 first-round pick, and a 2029 second-round pick.
Washington had signed a four-year, $90 million extension last summer, a deal that begins this season and pays him $19.8 million for 2026-27. At the time, the contract seemed solid, especially given his defensive versatility and shooting helped Dallas reach the 2024 NBA Finals. But the roster has since evolved in dramatic fashion. Cooper Flagg has emerged as the franchise’s focal point, creating a packed frontcourt that now includes Santi Aldama, Naji Marshall, Morez Johnson Jr., Daniel Gafford, and Dereck Lively II. The group is stacked at both the power forward and center positions, intensifying competition for minutes.
As a result, Washington has become a focal point in trade chatter. Several reports noted that his value remains appealing, even with the crowded frontcourt. One Mavericks beat writer observed shortly after the Johnson Jr. selection that there is little reason for Dallas to hold Washington on a four-year extension that has just begun, given the depth surrounding him. The Aldama deal further elevated the overlap at Washington’s spot, prompting another outlet to suggest that Washington’s trade rumors would intensify after the move and that his days in Dallas could be numbered.
The veteran still carries genuine trade value. His age, contract, and two-way capabilities make him an attractive target for teams seeking frontcourt help. Dallas has already been connected to potential trade scenarios involving guards such as Portland’s Shaedon Sharpe, with Washington’s salary used to balance deals. The Mavericks could retain Washington through the February deadline to assess market dynamics and potential offers; with so many big men on the roster, Washington’s security in Dallas is no longer a given for the first time since he joined the team in 2024.
For now, Dallas appears poised as the clear winner of the Aldama trade, even as Memphis settles for a big man with less established impact. The Mavericks’ frontcourt situation remains a high-stakes subplot of the season, with Washington at the center of ongoing discussions about minutes, role, and possible cap-trade maneuvering. The March and February windows will be telling as Dallas navigates the balance between internal development and external enhancement, all while managing a crowded (and increasingly valuable) array of big men. The evolving dynamic could redefine where Washington fits—or if his best path forward with the franchise lies in a potential trade.