The Dallas Mavericks have agreed to terms on a contract extension with forward PJ Washington. The deal, worth a reported $90 million over four years, was first reported by Shams Charania of ESPN.
Washington is playing on the final year of a three-year deal he signed with the Charlotte Hornets in the summer of 2023. He was later traded to the Dallas Mavericks in February of 2024, following the Mavericks failed attempt to trade for Kyle Kuzma.
His season and a half with the Dallas Mavericks has been very productive; he’s averaged 14 points, seven rebounds, two assists, and two stocks a game. Without Washington, it’s safe to say Dallas doesn’t make the NBA Finals in 2024 as his lockdown defense and timely scoring were vital in the playoff run. Washington has played multiple roles, from lockdown defender to connecting piece, and even primary scorer when the team’s health woes demanded it. At 27 years old, he’s in the prime of his career and the Mavericks now have the opportunity to hold on to Washington for all of it.
According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, the nature of the extension under the current CBA allows a raise of 140% off his salary this season. He makes $14.2 million in 2025-26, so the first year of his extension will come in at $19.8 million. The final year of the extension, in 2029-30, will pay him $24.6 million. He’s also not eligible to be traded during the 2025-26 NBA season.
Understanding that the extension doesn’t kick in until next season, it’s worth acknowledging that the Mavericks will be firmly over the NBA’s dreaded second apron in the 2026-27 season without any changes to the roster. However, there’s plenty of time for Dallas to find means to get under that threshold.
For now, it’s worth celebrating a well-earned deal that’s also friendly to the Mavericks. Washington is a talented player and one who I believe still has upside potential. The Mavericks went years without highly skilled forwards and now they have many such players. It’s a good roster problem to have.