Mavs Address Crucial Frontcourt Needs with Trade Deadline Moves; Title Contention for Luka Doncic?

The Dallas Mavericks traded for Charlotte Hornets forward P.J. Washington and Washington Wizards center Daniel Gafford on Thursday.

The Dallas Mavericks went into the trade deadline with pressing needs at their starting power forward and backup center positions. If they were going to make a legitimate playoff push in a stacked Western Conference, moves had to be made.

Mavs GM Nico Harrison did a masterful job of addressing both big needs, as Dallas added two quality starters at both positions by acquiring forward P.J. Washington from the Charlotte Hornets (10-40) and center Daniel Gafford from the Washington Wizards. 

P.J. Washington going up for a layup vs. the Raptors.  / Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports

The Mavs (28-23) traded Grant Williams, Seth Curry and a first-round pick for Washington, per The Athletic's Shams Charania. For Gafford, they gave up Richaun Holmes plus draft compensation, according to multiple reports. Including Williams in the deal for Washington could be addition by subtraction, as he failed to live up to expectations, and one source tells DallasBasketball.com that his personality didn't fit in well either. 

The Mavs acquired Williams in a three-team sign-and-trade involving a 2030 first-round pick swap. In his last 40 games for Dallas, Williams averaged 6.9 points and 3.5 rebounds in 25.2 minutes, shooting 37.8 percent from the field and 32.9 percent from beyond the 3-point line.

In Washington (9-41) and Gafford, Dallas added two big men who can do it all offensively and defensively around the rim. Washington has averaged 13.6 points and 5.3 rebounds per game and has shot 44.6 percent from the field. He also has nine games with at least two blocks. 

Gafford is one of three players averaging over 10 points, seven rebounds, two blocks and a steal per game. San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama and Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis are the other players to average those numbers. 

BREAKING: Hornets Trade P.J. Washington to Mavs; Full Details

Gafford had 30 games with multiple blocks and nine with at least four. The former Wizards center has averaged career-highs with 10.9 points and eight rebounds per game and has shot 69 percent. Gafford can add some much-needed production when rookie Dereck Lively II is off the court. 

With Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving guiding the offense, both players could be poised to thrive, as opposed to playing on rebuilding Eastern Conference teams. If Gafford and Washington can continue to produce how they have through the first half of the season, it won't just improve the Mavs for its playoff push, it can make them a legitimate threat if they make it to the big dance.