P.J. Washington has seen his name pop up in a few trade rumors this offseason, but he told Kevin Gray of DLLS Sports he’s “super confident” he’ll still be a member of the Mavericks on opening night (YouTube link).
“I’ve had long talks with (president) Masai (Ujiri), our GM (Mike Schmitz), and the whole team*,” Washington said. “*So I’m super confident I’ll be a Maverick. This is where I want to be, so I’m super excited to be here and can’t wait to get things going.”
Washington, who turns 28 years old on Sunday and is entering his eighth season in the NBA, said he tries to ignore any trade speculation. For what it’s worth, Marc Stein of The Stein Line reported earlier this month that Ujiri is “said to be a fan” of the versatile forward.
“I know being a good player in this league, a lot of teams want you, but I’m where I want to be,” Washington told Gray. ” … I love this organization. I love my teammates, coaching staff. So I think everybody’s on the right page with that.”
Washington said he’s excited to be back on the court with Kyrie Irving, who’s “back to himself” after missing all of last season while recovering from a torn ACL. The former lottery pick added that he’s been asked by Ujiri to be a vocal leader this season, and has been working this summer on becoming a more consistent three-point shooter after converting 32.5% of his outside looks in 2025/26.
Here’s more from Dallas:
In a recent interview with Anadolu Agency, wing Tarik Biberovic talks about signing his first NBA contract with the Mavs after spending eight years with Turkish powerhouse Fenerbahce, per Eurohoops. “This was my dream, and I am happy that I have finally been able to achieve it,” Biberovic said. “I am reaching the highest point of my career, but this is not the end—it is the beginning. I am entering a completely new world and opening a new page. I will start from scratch, work my way up step by step and fight for everything. I want to earn as many minutes as possible, show my ability and become one of the team’s most reliable players. My goal is to build a great career (in Dallas).”
Appearing on 105.3 The Fan’s G-Bag Nation show (YouTube link), general manager Schmitz said Flagg has been working on all aspects of his game this summer and is confident the reigning Rookie of the Year will improve from behind the arc in year two after he knocked down just 29.5% of his threes last season. “He has a great touch,” Schmitz said, according to Grant Afseth of DallasSportsJournal.com. “He can shoot on the move. He can handle the ball. I know it’s something he’s been really, really working at, and has a great touch — great touch at the (inaudible), great touch around the rim. So I think you’re going to see him continue to improve in those areas.”
The Mavericks filed a lawsuit against the NHL’s Dallas Stars in October, with the Stars filing a countersuit the following day. Both lawsuits were related to the American Airlines Center, which the clubs share. But the two teams released a joint statement on Monday saying they’ve “reached an agreement that resolves the outstanding matters between the two organizations” and will continue to share the arena through at least the 2030/31 season.