Luka Doncic, Mavs Speak on New Trade Additions P.J. Washington, Daniel Gafford
NEW YORK CITY — Before the Dallas Mavericks achieved a 122-108 victory over the New York Knicks, the team reached trade agreements to acquire P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford to bolster the supporting cast around Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.
Mavs general manager Nico Harrison explained the organization had three goals to accomplish before the trade deadline, beginning with adding size, adding frontcourt depth, and adding more scoring punch. Dallas feels the team did it.
"We had three goals coming in here," Harrison said. "We wanted to get bigger, we wanted to add to our depth in the front court and then also get some scoring punch. So those were our three goals, and we feel like they're here to accomplish those."
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Washington, who stands at 6-foot-7 and weighs 230 pounds, provides the Mavs with a big who can stretch the floor and play the four and five, by their estimation. The team is intrigued by his scoring ability and general versatility, averaging 13.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in 44 games this season.
"P.J., I think, the biggest thing about him is is he can score," Harrison said. "I think a couple of weeks ago, he might have had 40 points or something like that. He can get dirty. He can get hot. He can shoot. He can create. So it's just versatility but also rim protection. He can block shots, and he's big. He can play the four and five."
Gafford, averaging 10.9 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks in 45 games this season, provides the Mavs with rim protection and needed center depth behind Dereck Lively II. With the highly efficient interior play finishing Gafford provides as a rim roller and cutter, Dallas is intrigued by how that can be maximized.
"When you look at Gafford, big time in protection, adding depth to our front court," Harrison said. "I can just imagine him and Luka and Kai in the pick-and-roll and what that's going to bring."
As the Mavs' franchise cornerstone, Doncic stated the front office discussed with him before making their trade deadline moves.
"Yeah, they talked to me," Doncic said.
Doncic highlighted P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford as two "really good" players who added needed size to the Mavs. He wanted the team to add a backup center for "three years already."
"I think we got two really good players," Doncic said. "We added some size to our team. We added a backup center, which I wanted [for] like three years already. So, I think both players are really going to help us out a lot."
When describing each player individually, Doncic praised Washington's ability to shoot, block shots, and defend. Gafford presents a shot blocker and rim protector. With Dereck Lively II previously being Dallas' only other option to protect the paint, the team is now better insulated in the event of injuries occurring.
"They are two different players, but with their size, they can help us," Doncic said. "P.J. [Washington] can shoot, block shots, and play defense, while Daniel [Gafford] can also block shots and protect us in the paint. I think those two are really going to help us.”
The Mavs coaching staff views Gafford as having a similar skill set as Dereck Lively II, between his ability to rim roll, protect the rim, rebound, and block shots, providing the team with needed depth.
"Being able to get Gafford, he's probably pretty close to the D Live [Dereck Lively II]," Mavs coach Jason Kidd said. "So, you have someone who can roll, put a lot of pressure on the rim, rebound, block shots, and be able to bring him off the bench or start him as needed."
Kidd appreciates the versatility the Mavs will have with lineup combinations since he views Washington as the type of player who can play multiple positions, whether he's on the wing or sliding into a small ball center role.
"When you look at P.J., his ability to score at the four, three, or two positions, he can play a lot of different positions," Kidd said. "He can play the five, so we have a lot of options there. And also being able to get Maxi's minutes down with the depth that we have."
When Washington steps into the team, Kidd mentioned there is a chance he will initially come off the bench, especially considering Saturday's game starts at 2:00 p.m. Central, not leaving much room to get him or Gafford acclimated to the team. They aren't positive physicals will be completed in time for them to play, either.
"He could be. Yes. He could be a starter. He can come off the bench, but yes, I could see him starting at some point," Kidd said. "I don't know if that's going to be Saturday afternoon, but again, with the schedule, we get home tomorrow afternoon. It's a quick one that we start at 2:00. So, not a lot of time to put a lot of things in, so we'll try to keep it simple for those guys if they can play on Saturday."
Kidd stressed the need for patience with the Mavs adding two new important players in Washington and Gafford, highlighting how it takes time to establish a rhythm and to understand the nuances of their skill sets. He did mention "maybe three pieces" amid interest in signing Spencer Dinwiddie.
"I would just like to ask everyone to have some patience because anytime you add two new pieces, or maybe three new pieces, it takes time to get a rhythm and to understand each other," Kidd said. "But we're very excited to have those two."
With the playmaking of Doncic, the Mavs are confident Washington and Gafford will thrive by being on the receiving end of those passes. The goal is for Washington to provide dimensions that Grant Williams proved incapable of doing so, while Gafford can be maximized as a play finisher.
“They know from being on the other side what Luka can do,” Kidd said. “I think now, to be a teammate, they’re going to get to touch the ball. A lot of times, they’re going to have wide-open shots. They can ask their teammates now. Maybe that’s something that’s new to them.”
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