Over a year ago, P.J. Washington was able to leave the Charlotte Hornets after he was traded to the Dallas Mavericks. Months after the deal, he helped the Mavs reach the 2024 NBA Finals. Now, he will find himself $90 million richer after reportedly agreeing to a four-year contract extension with his current employer.
The decision was a no-brainer for Dallas, as Washington had proven to be a key piece of its successful run in the 2024 playoffs. He continued to show how great a role player he can be last season when he shot 38.1 percent from the 3-point line, grabbed a career-high 7.8 rebounds per game, and became just one of eight players in the league who suited up in 50 matches or more while averaging at least 1.0 block and 1.0 steal per contest.
It would be interesting to see how the Hornets' 2019 first-round pick fares in the following years with the Mavs, as he has likely lost his spot in the starting lineup due to the arrival of Cooper Flagg and Anthony Davis's aversion to playing at the five. Washington is probably fine, though, with being a reserve as long as he has the opportunity to compete for the championship.
While many Hornets fans are presumably happy that he seems to be in a good spot, it's tough for some of them to be elated about the fact that Dallas is in a position to be a contender in the years to come. That's because Charlotte owns the Mavs' 2027 first-round selection (top-two protected), and since they presently feature a formidable roster, the value of that pick isn't as high as it used to be when they shipped Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers at the 2024 trade deadline.
Hornets could use someone like P.J. Washington now
Where that selection lands two years from now is perhaps not much of a concern for the Hornets organization at the moment, as it should be more focused on building a capable roster around LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller.
One of the pressing issues Charlotte currently faces is the lack of frontcourt depth. Incidentally, having Washington could have made things less complicated for the squad, as he appears to be a perfect fit with its current core. However, that ship has sailed, and the Hornets have to look elsewhere for reinforcements.
Of course, the front office doesn't have to act on it now, especially because it still has to determine who to cut to trim the roster down to 15 standard-contract players. But if the Hornets find themselves fighting for a postseason spot or free-falling to the bottom of the standings again later in the season, they may need to pursue a forward or center who can make an impact on both ends of the floor like Washington.