Report: Mavericks plan to talk extensions with P.J. Washington, Daniel Gafford in offseason

Report: Mavericks plan to talk extensions with P.J. Washington, Daniel Gafford in offseason

As we outlined here, it’s been a disastrous last month for the Dallas Mavericks, who are fighting for play-in seeding in the Western Conference with the Los Angeles Clippers, Sacramento Kings and Minnesota Timberwolves.

They unfortunately lost star guard Kyrie Irving for the season with a torn ACL, adding to an otherwise stacked pile of injuries that Dallas has had to navigate through with newly-acquired Anthony Davis, Dereck Lively, P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford. Their frontcourt rotation went from dangerous to desperate in the snap of a finger.

Though the latter two aforementioned bigs–Gafford and Washington–will be eligible for extension this offseason. Nearly one year after both were acquired ahead of the trade deadline, the team is exploring extensions with both players, according to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto.

Both players are in the penultimate year of their contracts, which have similar cap hits; Washington is on the books for $14.2 million next season and Gafford for $14.4 million, according to Spotrac.

Dallas already has a lot of money invested in their frontcourt with $187 combined allocated to Anthony Davis and second-year big Dereck Lively II. Lively owns a $7.2 team option in 2026-27, but will be eligible for extension after 2025-26.

Kyrie Irving’s unfortunate injury underscores latest flaw in Mavericks’ deadline disaster

The Mavericks are nowhere near contention right now and are $3 million away from the projected $195.9 million first apron for next year. If it wants to keep this frontcourt together while staying under the onerous second apron, additional consolidation must occur somewhere–especially if the franchise plans on re-signing Irving to a bigger deal.

***

Click Here for more NBA Content

Subscribe to Vendetta’s Twitch

Subscribe to Vendetta’s YouTube

Check out the Vendetta Shop

Check out Vendetta Fantasy Contests