Mavs GM Nico Harrison Details Trade Deadline Moves for P.J. Washington, Daniel Gafford
NEW YORK CITY — At halftime of the Dallas Mavericks' matchup against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, general manager Nico Harrison spoke to local reporters to discuss the team's trade deadline moves, which included acquisitions of P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford.
The Mavs acquired Washington and two second-round picks from the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for Grant Williams, Seth Curry, and a 2027 first-round pick (top-two protection). The team traded for a 2024 first-round pick from the Oklahoma City Thunder by giving them the right to swap first-round picks in 2028, then re-routed that 2024 first-round pick along with Richaun Holmes to the Washington Wizards for Gafford.
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The goals for the Mavs using the trade deadline were to add size, frontcourt depth, and more of a scoring punch in general. Dallas feels those have been accomplished since Washington checks plenty of those boxes, while Gafford presents a traditional center that can do the dirty work inside.
"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."
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.
"PJ, 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."
Washington is shooting just 32.4 percent from the perimeter this season, but the Mavs are confident that being on the receiving end of playmaking from Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, the rate he converts will go up. He's a career 35.9 percent shooter from beyond the arc in 304 regular season games.
"When you have really good guards, you get really good shots, and it makes it a lot easier," Harrison said. "So I think you just try to envision what their skill sets are, what they do, and then you imagine them when you're playing with 1 of the best guards — excuse me — the best guard in the league, what's your what are your shots going to look like now? You're going to have more space, more time."
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."
There has been no shortage of injuries the Mavs have dealt with throughout the season — and still are to some extent — resulting in a need to fortify general depth. The team feels they are better insulated from possible missed games from key players in the frontcourt after adding Washington and Gafford.
"We've been injured a lot this year, so when we talk about adding depth, when you're injured now, it's like, okay, we still have some guys who can go to pieces and not worry about while someone's injured, rushing them back," Harrison said. "We have more depth now, so we feel like we can match up with anybody."
The Mavs' recent struggles to string together wins did not provide extra motivation for the front office to make moves. The team remains confident in what they can achieve, with a focus needing to be on not only immediate success but also positioning the franchise well for the long haul.
"I think what we added was what we needed anyway," Harrison said. "So I don't. I don't think it's just adding depth, getting bigger. I think that's always going to help you and getting a guy that can score. That's that's always going to help you in any year. So I think regardless of if we're winning more or not, we will try to accomplish this. We know our team, so we know."
The Mavs have been linked to Spencer Dinwiddie in the buyout market after the Toronto Raptors traded and waived him. He attended the game at Madison Square Garden — seated by the Mavs' bench — and even had a conversation on the court with Mark Cuban. Harrison made clear the team will make a move of any kind that will help the team, if there's one to be made.
"If there's a chance to make our team better, we're we're going to do that, for sure," Harrison said. "There's no doubt about it."
