P.J. Washington, Mavs Agree to 4-Year, $90M Contract Extension Through 2030

The Dallas Mavericks traded for P.J. Washington during the 2023-24 season, and now they're making sure he remains with the team for the foreseeable future.

While the 2025-26 campaign was the final one on his previous deal, Washington and the Mavericks agreed to a new four-year, $90 million extension on Wednesday, Washington's agent, Kevin Bradbury, told ESPN's Shams Charania.

Washington's new deal ties him to the Mavs through the 2029-30 season.

Mike Curtis of the Dallas Morning News reported in August that Washington landing an extension was "likely" even though the exact details were unclear at the time.

"For the Mavericks, agreeing to the extension retains a core member for the foreseeable future, which aligns with their short-term window of competing for a championship," Curtis explained while pointing out Daniel Gafford (three years) and Kyrie Irving (three years) recently signed extensions as well.

Their timelines also largely align with those of Anthony Davis and Max Christie as the Mavericks attempt to build a core that can compete in the daunting Western Conference.

It didn't take long for Washington to make an impression in Dallas after it acquired him from the Charlotte Hornets during the 2023-24 season. He was a key member of the starting lineup as the team advanced to the NBA Finals and averaged 13.0 points and 6.6 rebounds per game in that playoff run.

The forward was even more productive in his first full season with the Mavericks and averaged 14.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.1 blocks per game while shooting 45.3 percent from the field and 38.1 percent from deep.

That ability to hit from the outside makes Washington a matchup nightmare for opposing frontcourts and allows him to take advantage when defenses focus too much attention on players such as Davis and Irving.

What's more, he is a versatile defender who can guard multiple positions, which allows the Mavericks to mix-and-match different lineup looks depending on the opposition.

Opponents also shot 2.7 percent worse than their normal averages within six feet of the basket when he defended them in 2024-25, per NBA.com, underscoring his ability to protect the rim as an undersized forward.

Yet it was fair to wonder about Washington's exact role heading into the 2025-26 campaign after Dallas landed the No. 1 pick of the draft and selected Cooper Flagg. Flagg instantly became a franchise centerpiece and figured to eat into some of Washington's playing time in the forward rotation.

Still, the veteran provides important depth and injury insurance for a team that has dealt with a number of physical setbacks of late.

He is a proven playmaker and helps bolster a core that could be competitive for years to come.