Mavericks trade for Hornets' P.J. Washington
This season for the Hornets, P.J. Washington has emerged as a solid scorer.
Dallas persists in enhancing its frontcourt for the concluding weeks of the 2023-24 season.
The Mavs have worked out a trade to acquire Hornets forward P.J. Washington from the Hornets for Grant Williams, Seth Curry and a first-round pick. Dallas also closed on a trade that netted them Wizards center Daniel Gafford.
Mavs receive:
- P.J. Washington
- 2024-second-round pick
- 2028 second-round pick
Hornets receive:
- Grant Williams
- Seth Curry
- 2027 first-round pick
What trade means for Mavs: Dallas (28-23) is No. 8 in the Western Conference playoff chase, but just two games behind the Phoenix Suns (30-21) and New Orleans Pelicans (30-21) for the No. 5 and 6 seeds, respectively.
One issue keeping the Mavs from climbing the ranks has been its play around the basket, particularly in rebounding and defense. Dallas is No. 25 in rebounds per game (41.5) and allows 45.6 points in the paint, which ranks 28th.
In adding Washington (as well as Gafford), the Mavs are hopefully addressing those issues. Washington is averaging 13.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game this season, shooting 44.6% overall and 32.4% on 3-pointers. He should slot into a regular role in Dallas’ rotation and provide scoring and rebounding in the paint, as well as some defense.
The Mavericks, who are striving to return to the playoffs after failing to do so last year, have added a fresh face to their frontcourt. This comes at a time when star guards Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving are both healthy and back playing together.
What trade means for Hornets: Charlotte has been one of the busiest teams in trades this season, which isn’t unexpected given the team’s 10-40 record. Earlier on trade deadline day, the Hornets agreed to deal veteran Gordon Hayward to the Oklahoma City Thunder, which came weeks after the team dealt guard Terry Rozier to the Miami Heat.
Williams was a high-profile acquisition for the Mavs last summer and hit the ground running this season in Dallas. However, his output has taken a nosedive even though his stats (8.1 points per game, 3.6 rebounds per game, 1.7 assists per game) are nearly identical to those he achieved in 2022-23 with the Boston Celtics (8.1 points per game, 4.6 rebounds per game, 1.7 assists per game).
Curry, a seasoned veteran, is returning to the state he calls home to play for the same franchise his father, Dell, was a star player of in the 1990s. This season, he’s averaging 4.3 points per game and 1.4 rebounds per game, while maintaining a 36.2% shooting average on 3-pointers.
Curry and Williams, both of whom played high school basketball in Charlotte, are returning home.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
