The Inevitable Auction: How the Mavericks’ Latest Bold Move Sets the Stage for a Trade Bidding War

 

In the aftermath of the most shocking trade in modern NBA history, the Dallas Mavericks front office, led by General Manager Nico Harrison, has found itself in a paradoxical position. The deal that sent generational superstar Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers has been widely panned as one of the most lopsided and baffling trades ever. The return—Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a distant 2029 first-round pick—was universally deemed insufficient for a player of Dončić’s caliber and age. The Mavericks, so the consensus went, got fleeced, and they did so by not engaging in the “bidding war” that should have ensued for one of the league’s top players.

However, a closer look at a recent move by the Mavericks reveals a shrewd, long-term strategy that will almost certainly rectify that initial mistake. While the Dončić trade was a failure in asset maximization, the subsequent decision to sign P.J. Washington to a four-year, $88 million contract extension has set the stage for an unavoidable trade bidding war next summer, one that will finally bring the Mavericks the kind of haul they should have received for their former franchise cornerstone.

This new contract, while a sign of the Mavericks’ commitment to Washington, also comes with a significant caveat: a six-month trade restriction. This means Washington is a Maverick for the entire 2025-26 season. But as soon as that season ends, Nico Harrison’s phone is going to be ringing off the hook, and for good reason.

The simple truth is that P.J. Washington, a player who blossomed into a vital two-way forward during the Mavericks’ unexpected run to the 2024 NBA Finals, is a steal at his new salary. At an average of just over $22 million per year, he represents incredible value for a player who has proven he can be a key contributor on a championship-caliber team. In the modern NBA, do-it-all wings who can guard multiple positions, hit open shots, and provide the kind of physical and emotional toughness Washington brings are invaluable. These players are often the missing piece, the difference between a good team and a great one. We saw it with Aaron Gordon on the Denver Nuggets and now with Washington on the Mavericks.

Teams around the league will be watching Washington’s performance with a magnifying glass. If he continues to provide the floor spacing, athletic finishing, and defensive versatility he showed during the 2024 playoffs, his value will only continue to skyrocket. The Mavericks’ new-look roster, featuring Anthony Davis and rookie phenom Cooper Flagg, will likely elevate Washington’s game even further. He’ll be playing off of two of the most physically dominant players in the league, giving him more open looks and opportunities to cut to the rim. If he ends up being a top candidate for the Sixth Man of the Year award, a role he may be asked to fill, his trade value will become astronomical.

So why would the Mavericks even consider trading a player who fits so perfectly into their new vision? The answer is simple: asset accumulation and the inevitable pressure from other teams. The trade market for players on team-friendly deals who can be the missing piece for a contender is fierce. Teams that are just one piece away from a championship will be desperate to acquire a player like Washington. They will be willing to outbid each other, offering a wealth of draft picks and young talent that the Mavericks were unable to extract in the Dončić deal.

Rival GMs will pitch Washington the opportunity to be a starter and have a more prominent role on their team, a potential source of discontent for a player who has earned a place in a starting lineup. While Washington seems to have fully embraced his role as a Maverick, his new contract and proven ability will give him an unprecedented level of leverage. He could very well be the central figure in a bidding war that could bring the Mavericks the kind of draft capital they should have received for Dončić.

The irony is not lost on anyone. After being criticized for their inability to create a bidding war for a generational talent, the Mavericks have, by their own volition, created the conditions for a bidding war for a player who, while not a superstar, is an immensely valuable asset. Nico Harrison, who was widely lambasted for his role in the Dončić trade, now holds all the cards. His phone is going to be ringing off the hook, and this time, he’ll be in a position to leverage that interest into a massive haul.

The Mavericks’ latest bold move isn’t just about securing P.J. Washington’s future in Dallas; it’s about setting the stage for the kind of trade that can truly accelerate their rebuild. It’s a calculated gamble that could either solidify their new-look roster or provide them with the assets to acquire the next great talent. Either way, the Mavericks have finally given themselves a winning hand, and the rest of the league is about to come calling.