P.J. Washington Shuts Down Trade Talk, Says He's a Maverick on Opening Night

P.J. Washington has been a fixture on the Mavericks trade rumor mill all offseason, and he'd like everyone to knock it off. In a new interview, the 27-year-old forward said he's "super confident" he'll be in Dallas on opening night, adding that he's had long conversations with new team president Masai Ujiri and the entire organization about his future.

The numbers explain why the speculation existed — and why it never made much sense. Washington averaged 14.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 2.1 stocks across 56 games last season (2025-26), the kind of two-way, position-versatile line that both trade suitors and Ujiri covet. He was a key piece of the 2024 team that reached the Finals, and he's proven he can defend and score.

Washington said Ujiri framed his role bluntly: be a leader, be aggressive on both ends, and mentor the young players as the team's veteran voice. That's not the language you use with a player you're about to ship out. He also emphasized that Dallas is exactly where he wants to be.

Why The Rumors Wouldn't Die

The logic behind the noise is the roster math. Ujiri, who built Toronto's 2019 title team and joined Dallas after the 2025 draft, has always chased long, athletic, defensive forwards — Siakam, Anunoby and Scottie Barnes were all his picks. Dallas now has a forward room stacked to the ceiling: Washington, Naji Marshall, Zaccharie Risacher, Caleb Martin, rookie Morez Johnson Jr., Santi Aldama, Cooper Flagg and more.

When a team hoards that many players at one spot, someone usually gets moved. Washington's message is that the odd man out won't be him. The interview effectively confirmed Ujiri's blueprint — build a versatile forward-heavy core — and Washington is one of its most valuable pieces.

The On-Court Picture

There's a real basketball upside here beyond the roster politics. Washington and Flagg didn't mesh well in their minutes together last season, largely because Dallas lacked spacing and shooting. New head coach Dusty May wants to push the pace, which should suit Washington's athleticism far better than a grind-it-out halfcourt scheme.

The Kyrie Irving factor matters too. Irving posted 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists across 50 games in 2024-25, good for 40.6 fantasy points per game, and his return gives Dallas a genuine offensive hub. Flagg, who put up 21 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 70 games (2025-26) for 39.8 fantasy points per game, becomes far more dangerous with an offense that actually creates room.

The Fantasy Fallout

For Washington managers, this is stabilizing news. A confirmed role and a faster system protect his floor — he's a steady mid-round contributor whose stock-heavy profile (2.1 steals-plus-blocks in 2025-26) always plays in category leagues. He's a HOLD, not a panic-sell.

The clear winner is Flagg, our No. 34 overall (#13 at position). Better spacing, Irving's playmaking and a run-and-gun scheme all point toward growth on his 39.8 fantasy points per game (2025-26). He's a legitimate early-round target. Irving, our No. 29 overall, is the other beneficiary — assuming health, he anchors this offense.

The loser is Caleb Martin. Buried on the depth chart, he managed just 3.9 points and 11.3 fantasy points per game across 58 games (2025-26), with his last five games trending 2.9 fantasy points below that average. In a room this deep, he's droppable in all but the deepest formats. Naji Marshall (27.8 fantasy points per game in 2025-26) remains the forward to prioritize behind Flagg.