An ideal deadline trade target for the Los Angeles Lakers might not be on the table, as NBA insider Marc Stein reported on Sunday that an extension for P.J. Washington is “likely” (subscription required). If Washington signs an extension, he won’t be eligible to be traded for six months if he signs a three-plus year deal or gets a 120% raise in the first year of his new deal from what he’ll make this upcoming season ($14.2 million).
The Lakers are building their future around Luka Doncic, who signed an extension this summer. If it were up to him, Washington would already be in LA. The two spent about a year together in Dallas, as the Mavericks traded for the forward before the 2024 deadline. The acquisition helped propel Dallas to the 2024 NBA Finals.
Little did Luka or P.J. know (or anyone else) that the following deadline, Doncic would be on his way out. Even though things are trending toward Washington signing an extension, that doesn’t mean a reunion with Doncic in LA won’t happen. It could actually make a trade more feasible next summer because of his salary. He’s eligible to sign a four-year deal worth $90 million, so odds are that he’ll be ineligible to be traded before February.
P.J. Washington will “likely” sign an extension this offseason
As Stein noted, Washington is no longer guaranteed a starting spot in Dallas after the team won the draft lottery and selected Cooper Flagg. Washington has started in all but two games he’s played in for the Mavericks since the 2024 trade. How Dallas will fare next season in a stacked Western Conference is impossible to predict, but the Mavs will be better than anyone suspected they’d be before the draft lottery. If Washington is on the market next summer, perhaps the Lakers could throw together a package and convince Nico Harrison to do another deal.
Washington is the kind of player LA needs, as he is a good defender, rebounder, and can knock down shots to help space the floor. His versatility is what enabled him to slide seamlessly into the Mavericks’ starting five after last year’s trade, and he can do the same with the Lakers. It’s a bonus that he built chemistry with Luka on the court. And P.J. just turned 27 (as of two days ago), so he fits the timeline with Luka, who is 26.
If it were up to Washington, do you think he’d turn down reuniting with Luka in LA? Absolutely not. He wouldn’t say it right now since he’s still with the Mavericks and about to sign an extension, but you know he’s thought about it.
Let’s see what happens over the next few days and next season. Perhaps Washington will make the move to Los Angeles as soon as next summer.
