Representatives for Mavericks forward P.J. Washington and center Daniel Gafford are expected to engage the Mavericks‘ front office in discussions this offseason about potential contract extensions for their clients, reports Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.
Washington and Gafford will be entering contract years in 2025/26, with Washington set to earn $14,152,174 in the final season of his contract while Gafford earns $14,386,320 in the last year of his deal. Both players were acquired at the 2024 trade deadline and helped the Mavs make a late-season run and a playoff push that culminated in an NBA Finals appearance last spring.
Veteran contract extensions can typically start at up to 140% of the player’s previous salary and cover no more than five total years, including the years remaining on the player’s previous deal. That means Washington’s maximum extension this offseason would be worth approximately $88.76MM over four years, while Gafford’s would be worth about $90.23MM over four years.
Those projections may end up slightly higher depending on where the league’s “estimated average salary” comes in for 2025/26 — players are allowed to sign extensions that start at up to 140% of the estimated average salary if that figure exceeds their own salary.
I’m skeptical that the Mavericks would go as high as $90MM over four years – or would need to – to lock up Gafford, who was backing up Dereck Lively at the five earlier this season and could now be vying for frontcourt minutes with Anthony Davis as well (though the Mavs are expected to deploy plenty of two-big lineups). If Gafford signs an extension, it likely wouldn’t be for that maximum offer.
Washington has emerged as an extremely valuable role player though — he’s averaging a career-high 8.1 rebounds per game, making 37.4% of his three-point shoots, and providing solid, versatile defense. He’s more likely to warrant the max offer Dallas could put on the table prior to free agency.
Interestingly, Scotto reports that Washington and Gafford both briefly came up in trade talks earlier this season when the Mavericks registered interest in Jimmy Butler. Those exploratory discussions with the Heat didn’t really go anywhere though, according to Scotto, as Dallas pivoted away from Butler and moved forward with their controversial Luka Doncic/Davis blockbuster. The Mavs also expressed interest in forward Kyle Kuzma before trading Doncic, Scotto adds.