The Dallas Mavericks front office is currently facing a crucial financial decision that could shape their roster for years to come. They are already more than $3.4 million over the luxury tax line, have a lot riding on Cooper Flagg, and Kyrie Irving is sidelined with an ACL tear. All of this means their trade and contract choices have a direct impact on who stays, who goes, and who ends up being expendable.

At the same time, Dallas is navigating a frontcourt led by Anthony Davis and Dereck Lively, with Flagg projected to slot in alongside them. That leaves other players fighting for minutes, particularly at forward. PJ Washington posted career-best numbers last campaign, averaging 14.7 points and 7.8 rebounds. But he may be pushed to the bench despite being a starter since arriving in Dallas in 2024.

However, with him entering the final year of his contract, the situation needs to be handled before the season tips off. The decision carries extra weight because of what happened with Jalen Brunson.

‘Locked on Mavericks’ took to YouTube and reported that the team is preparing to offer Washington a four year extension worth close to $90 million. The move would protect Dallas from another Jalen Brunson type mistake, where a player left in free agency for nothing. As the podcast put it, “Why should PJ take it right now? Because that’s $90 million. And that’s more than anybody who’s listening to this on this podcast. Why should the Mavs do it now? Well, you really don’t want another Jalen Brunson situation, do you? God bless. I can’t handle that”.

The extension question has created direct pressure on Klay Thompson’s future. On the same show, the hosts outlined the hierarchy of the trade assets Dallas will not touch. “Well, I would start off with Cooper Flagg. They’re not going to trade Cooper Flagg. They’re not ever. They have Anthony Davis. I feel like they’ve already committed a lot to him. So he’s probably off the board. They have their future first round picks that are valuable. They’re really valuable after that feels like they’re kind of holding those close to their chest.” That keeps the core protected and makes Thompson one of the names left in the trade pool.

Despite his championship experience and shooting ability, the 35-year-old guard finds himself in the expendable category as Dallas builds around younger talent. The numbers support Washington’s importance to the team’s success last season, as the Mavericks posted a 31-26 record when he played compared to just 8-17 without him. His career-best averages of 14.7 points and 7.8 rebounds while shooting 38.1% from three-point range make him the type of versatile forward modern NBA teams seek. And the Mavericks are no different.

Thompson’s three year, $50 million deal gives Dallas room to move him if needed, and given his age and injury history, his role has already been shifting on the team. His status now looks tied to what happens with Washington’s extension.

The Mavericks appear determined to learn from their past mistakes by securing Washington’s future before he can explore free agency. According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the team is likely to offer Washington a four-year extension worth nearly $90 million when he becomes eligible on August 29th. This proactive approach represents a significant shift in philosophy for an organization that previously hesitated to commit to players before testing their market value. A hesitation that cost them dearly just a few years ago. You guessed it right. Jalen Brunson himself.

The ghost haunting Dallas- Jalen Brunson

The urgency around this stems directly from how the Mavericks handled Jalen Brunson in 2022. Brunson himself explained, “I really did want to stay in Dallas. I think before my fourth season in Dallas, my last season in Dallas, we tried to extend our contract. Whatever we can get, the most we can get was, like, 4 years and $55 million. We wanted to do that. I wanted to stay there”. Dallas declined, waited until after his breakout, and watched him sign for $104 million with the Knicks instead.

Brunson admitted he was willing to accept security even if the market suggested he could make more. “I thought I would be there for a long time, and I liked my role there… I just want to be safe. And I’m not trying to gamble right now. This is not something you can really gamble with if it’s out there.” The Mavericks still held off, wanting to evaluate, and eventually lost him outright. That has become the cautionary tale guiding their approach to Washington’s extension this summer.

This is where Thompson’s position becomes tricky. If Washington is extended, Thompson’s name almost certainly comes up in trades. If Washington does not extend, then the Mavericks risk losing another asset the same way they did with Brunson. Thompson remains a respected veteran with championship pedigree and shooting numbers as good as 14PPG with a 3pt% of 39.1%. But Dallas’ trade map places him outside the untouchable group. The more the Mavericks protect their future around Flagg and Davis, the clearer it becomes that Thompson is one of the players whose time may be cut short.