Before the Los Angeles Lakers’ blockbuster trade for Luka Doncic last February, it was difficult to envision the 17-time NBA champions ever conducting business with the Dallas Mavericks.
Now that Los Angeles has already fleeced Dallas once, it makes sense for the franchise to explore future trades with the 2011 NBA champions. ESPN’s Kevin Pelton recently reported that it would be feasible for the Lakers to trade for Doncic’s 6-foot-7 former Mavericks teammate.
“If Dallas is willing to do business with the Lakers again after firing its general manager who made the Doncic trade (Nico Harrison), (Daniel) Gafford, and (P.J.) Washington would be sensible trade targets this summer,” Pelton stated Tuesday. “So too would Mavericks forward Naji Marshall, the team’s replacement after Jones left in free agency following the Finals.”
If the Lakers discover they’ll be unable to acquire Gafford or Naji Marshall, they shouldn’t hesitate to pivot to Washington. Getting traded from the Charlotte Hornets to the Mavericks in 2024 is the best thing that could have happened to Washington.
The Hornets are more competitive now, but the organization was the league’s laughingstock and appeared to have zero direction when Washington was part of it. Although the Mavericks aren’t having the best 2025-26 campaign, Washington has already reached the NBA Finals in Dallas and is getting a chance to showcase his in-between game and stout defensive chops in a larger market.
Washington, who knows a thing or two about playing with Doncic, is contributing 14.0 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.3 blocks, and 1.0 steals per game with the Mavericks this season. The 27-year-old should be on the Lakers’ radar this summer.
