The Mavericks have been extremely active in trying to improve ahead of the NBA trade deadline.
Dallas already reportedly acquired Daniel Gafford from the Wizards to beef up the center depth behind Dereck Lively II. Now, it’s bringing in another frontcourt player to play next to them.
The Mavericks have reportedly acquired P.J. Tucker from the Hornets, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania. It didn’t come at a light cost, either. There’s heavy draft capital included in this deal that surely makes this a tough pill for Dallas to swallow.
Let’s dive into the details of it all as we grade this trade.
The details
Here’s the trade, reported from The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
Charlotte is trading PJ Washington to Dallas for package around Grant Williams, Seth Curry and a first-round pick, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. pic.twitter.com/ROf64V5XgK
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 8, 2024
Charlotte is receiving a 2027 first-rounder from Dallas — top-two protected — and sending two second rounders to Mavericks as part of the deal, sources said. https://t.co/T9wm0JfqXF
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 8, 2024
The Mavericks get: P.J. Washington and two second-round picks
The Hornets get: Grant Williams, Seth Curry and a top-2 protected first-round pick
Dallas Mavericks
At his best, I think P.J. Washington can be a helpful player to the Mavericks. He’s a floor-stretching big who can swing between playing power forward and operating as a small-ball center when necessary.
But he just hasn’t had a great year so far. He’s shooting a career-low 32 percent from 3-point range this year and hasn’t been as effective offensively. He makes $3 million more this year than Grant Williams, but there honestly hasn’t been much of a difference in their games this season.
Plus, with the Mavericks including a top-2 protected first-round pick, this feels like a hefty price to pay for someone who might be a marginal improvement at best.
GRADE: D+
Charlotte Hornets
This deal isn’t as much about getting better for the Hornets as it is about building draft equity for the future. A 2027 top-2 protected first-round pick is a steal for P.J. Washington.
It’s hard to say where the Mavericks will end up by then. Luka Doncic has a player option for the 2026-27 season. There’s a chance he may not be there. And, if he’s not, who knows how competitive the Mavericks will be?
That’s the bet the Hornets are making here. It’s a good one.
GRADE: A-
