Mavericks Rumors: Nico Harrison likely to lock 6’7” forward to $90,000,000 deal despite frontcourt logjam with Cooper Flagg, Anthony Davis

The Dallas Mavericks enter the new season with intrigue, led by Cooper Flagg and Anthony Davis, while Kyrie Irving is expected to miss most, if not all, of the campaign. Even so, they remain contenders, and a fresh report suggests they’re not finished securing their roster for the long term.

Marc Stein reported that the Mavericks are positioned to lock in 6-foot-7 forward PJ Washington with a multi-year deal. Starting Friday, he becomes eligible for a four-year extension worth just under $90 million.

“League sources tell The Stein Line that an extension for Washington is likely,” Stein reported.

Trending

Washington turned in his best season as a Maverick in 2024-25, averaging 14.7 points along with a career-best 7.8 rebounds while shooting 38.1% from beyond the arc. He now enters the final year of his three-year, $46.5 million contract.

He is part of a crowded frontcourt rotation that features Flagg, Davis, Naji Marshall, Caleb Martin and Olivier-Maxence Prosper.

With Irving sidelined, Dallas is expected to experiment more with its lineup, distributing playmaking and scoring duties. To help cover backcourt needs, they signed D’Angelo Russell during the offseason.

Why Stephen A. Smith thinks Dallas could win it all, with one big condition

Teams missing an All-Star often take a step back, as the Boston Celtics are doing without Jayson Tatum. But Stephen A. Smith believes the Mavericks have a chance to go all the way.

That possibility, he stressed, depends heavily on Anthony Davis staying healthy.

“If Anthony Davis brings his A-game, the Dallas Mavericks will win the NBA championship,” Smith said. “That’s a big if, it’s fluid. It can change, but it’s legit, and everybody knows it.

“The one thing that we ain’t going to say about AD is the brother can’t play. We know better. That’s the list.”

The Mavericks will have to navigate a rugged Western Conference that includes the defending champion OKC Thunder, a retooled Denver Nuggets and Houston Rockets, plus playoff regulars such as the LA Lakers, LA Clippers, Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors.

Dallas opens its season against the San Antonio Spurs as part of a five-game homestand, which will be capped by clashes with last season's NBA Finals teams, the Thunder and Indiana Pacers.

×

Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback

About the author

John Ezekiel Hirro

John Ezekiel Hirro is an experienced NBA and WNBA journalist at Sportskeeda, with over five years in the field as a news correspondent, sports writer, and Editor-in-Chief. His sports writing career began in high school, where he garnered numerous accolades, including being named the national sports writing champion in 2016.

He earned his journalism degree from the University of Santo Tomas in the Philippines in 2024 and served as the Editor-in-Chief of The Varsitarian, the university's official student publication, for four years—the longest in history.

A passionate basketball enthusiast, he became a fan of the OKC Thunder during the Russ-KD-Harden era. Russell Westbrook, his all-time favorite athlete, impressed him by stepping up as MVP after Kevin Durant's departure. His current favorite players include Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren, who he believes are the future of the OKC franchise.

He excels in game analysis and rapid news story turnaround, drawing inspiration from the journalistic styles of Woj and Shams. He emphasizes thorough research to ensure accuracy in his articles. One of his most memorable moments is Russell Westbrook breaking Oscar Robertson's record with his 42nd triple-double and securing a 106-105 victory over the Denver Nuggets with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer. Outside of writing, he enjoys listening to music and creating Spotify playlists.

Know More