Mavericks predicted to trade Daniel Gafford, PJ Washington for $319M NBA champion in 3-team deal

The Dallas Mavericks are still determining the best path forward for their roster under new management. However, one thing is certain: Dallas is building around reigning Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg.

The Mavericks are expected to explore several trades this summer, with multiple veteran players potentially on the move. One name that could be available is Klay Thompson.

“Thompson should be angling for a trade to a desirable destination rather than a buyout, albeit he holds less control in the former scenario. The complicated aspect is the 4x NBA champion is still set to make $17.5 million next season, and there might not be too many teams eager on him at that price point,” Blue Man Hoops’ Peter O’Keefe wrote.

Another pair of players who could be involved in trade discussions are P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford.

“That has fans looking at possible trades looming for P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford, two of the four highest-paid players on the roster. It's not that they're bad players, as they're both quite productive, but there are only so many minutes to go around in the frontcourt, and they likely have the most trade value of the veterans outside of Kyrie Irving,” SI’s Austin Veazey wrote.

Veazey believes Gafford and Washington could be included in a blockbuster three-team deal that would send Jrue Holiday to Dallas.

“Dallas Mavericks Receive: Jrue Holiday, 2029 first-round pick lottery-protected (second-best pick of Utah, Minnesota, and Cleveland, from Utah), 2028 second-round pick (via NYK, from UTA), 2029 second-round pick (via IND, from POR), 2030 second-round pick (via LAC, from UTA). Utah Jazz Receive: Daniel Gafford. Portland Trail Blazers Receive: P.J. Washington, Brice Sensabaugh, John Konchar,” Veazey wrote.

Adding Holiday would give the Mavericks another experienced guard alongside Kyrie Irving, who is expected to return from his season-ending injury. For Utah and Portland, the deal would provide each team with talented and athletic frontcourt players who could help their respective rebuilds.

Holiday has earned $319 million throughout his NBA career and has won two championships, one with the Milwaukee Bucks and one with the Boston Celtics. The two-time All-Star would bring valuable leadership and championship experience to a young Mavericks team looking to build around Flagg.

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