DALLAS — Even with hours to go before the NBA trade deadline, the Dallas Mavericks have already made two trades to upgrade their frontcourt depth.
The Mavs traded Grant Williams, Seth Curry and a 2027 first-round pick for Charlotte Hornets power forward P.J. Washington and two second-round picks on Thursday, according to The Athletic's Shams Charania. The pick Dallas is sending is reportedly top-two protected.
Earlier on Thursday, the Mavs also traded Richaun Holmes and draft compensation for Washington Wizards center Daniel Gafford, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. As of Thursday afternoon, the Mavs are reportedly still working to figure out exactly what draft picks will be heading to the Wizards.
Both of these moves look to be a sign that Dallas is trying to bolster the team's defense by adding big men who can protect the rim.
Washington, 25, who attended Frisco's Lone Star High School, is averaging 13.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game in 44 games this season. Gafford, 25, is averaging 10.9 points, 8.0 rebounds and a career-high 2.2 blocks per game in 45 games this season.
Playing next to Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving should allow Washington to have more open looks from the 3-point line than ever before in his career, which has all been in Charlotte.
Gafford, who similar to rookie Dereck Lively II is a downhill rim runner, should also get plenty of opportunity to finish off lobs from both Doncic and Irving. With Lively currently recovering from surgery for a broken nose, Gafford will get the opportunity to get important minutes right away.
Williams, who was the Mavs' key free-agency signing, leaves the team averaging 8.1 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game in 47 games this season. Dallas had signed him to a four-year, $53 million contract in a sign-and-trade deal that included the Mavs sending 2030 first-round swap rights to the San Antonio Spurs.
Washington signed a three-year, $48 million deal with the Hornets this past summer. The Mavs will owe him $15.5 million next season and $14.2 million for the 2025-26 season.
Gafford signed a three-year, $40 million deal with the Wizards in 2021 that started this season. So, Gafford is owed $12.4 million this season and then $13.4 million and $14.4 million over the next two seasons.