The calendar is creeping closer to NBA preseason action, with tip-off about a month away and the regular season set to begin in late October. For the Dallas Mavericks, the anticipation is especially high as the team looks to build on last season’s head-scratching year, leaving fans optimistic but still full of questions.
One of those questions lies at the small forward spot, where Cooper Flagg has quickly emerged as a more viable long-term upgrade than P.J. Washington. Flagg’s versatility and upside give Dallas a fresh look at the wing, but that doesn’t mean Washington is left without value. In fact, his ability to shift into a sixth-man role could be a pivotal development for the Mavs.
Instead of being pressured into starting-lineup expectations, Washington could thrive as a do-it-all contributor off the bench, someone who brings size, defense, and untapped playmaking when the stars sit. His presence bolsters what is arguably one of the deepest rosters Dallas has had in years, giving Jason Kidd more flexibility than ever before.
That depth sets the stage for Washington’s potential X-factor role, one that might not be obvious but could make all the difference next season: embracing a bigger share of ball-handling duties when the Mavericks need it most.
Why P.J. Washington’s playmaking will unlock the Mavericks’ bench
On Wednesday, P.J. Washington agreed to a four-year, $90 million extension with the Mavericks, keeping him in Dallas through the 2029-30 season. The deal highlights the franchise’s confidence in Washington as an important piece of its future.
Throughout his career, Washington has shown glimpses of being more than just a floor spacer and versatile defender. In Charlotte, there were stretches where he handled the ball in short bursts, creating for himself and others out of the mid-post or attacking closeouts off the dribble. Those moments were never his primary responsibility, but they hinted at a skillset that could be unlocked in the right situation.
That situation might be Dallas in 2025. Even after bringing Dante Exum back, the Mavericks’ rotation lacks depth when it comes to ball handling. Until Kyrie Irving is healthy, D’Angelo Russell will dominate the creation duties, but when he sits, there’s a noticeable drop-off in reliable initiators. Exum helps, but he’s better suited as a connector rather than a consistent secondary engine.
Along with Naji Marshall, this is where Washington’s hidden value comes in. If he embraces handling the ball more frequently, particularly with bench-heavy lineups, he could stabilize units that otherwise struggle to generate quality looks. His size at 6-foot-7 gives him a different angle as a creator, and pairing him with shooters like Klay Thompson or movement threats like Max Christie could open new wrinkles for the second unit.
Beyond playmaking, the shift into a sixth-man role allows Washington to focus on being an energy piece rather than carrying the weight of starter expectations. He can guard multiple positions, crash the glass, and punish mismatches while also serving as a release valve when the offense bogs down. For a Mavericks team that already has championship-level stars, those “in-between” skills are exactly what can separate a good season from a special one.
He could transform from a complementary piece into the X-factor that takes Dallas’ depth to another level. With Flagg strengthening the starting unit and Washington anchoring the bench, the Mavericks may have found the balance needed to turn another deep playoff run into something even greater.
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