In retrospect we are all Manolete. Watching the Dallas Mavericks it is obvious that sending Grant Williams, Seth Curry and a 2027 first rounder to Charlotte in exchange for PJ Washington was a complete success. In those first weeks of February the movement was viewed with suspicion by some of the main American media analysts. Without going any further, Kevin Pelton gave him a ‘D’ in his evaluation for ESPN. Which would translate as a suspense.
Returning to the present, Washington is, perhaps, the best complement that Luka Doncic has had in his career in Dallas. Or at least, if we count Jalen Brunson as a complement in the 21-22 season, the most complete. A defender who can throw against the majority of star outside/forwards in the league without too much concern and a sum of kilos and centimeters vital to making the area a fortress like the one Dallas is creating in these playoffs. In attack, an outside threat (although he started his adventures badly in the Texan team) who makes the field wide from the corners, who can attack with a dribble and finish with enough tact near the rim and who, in addition, reads the receptions well after blocking direct or two against one to Kyrie Irving and Luka.
More NBACurry takes another three-point record… from himself
With permission from Dereck Lively, the small forward/power forward is the third most important piece of these Mavericks and his fit with the stars is close to perfection. However, beyond the aforementioned judgments that came to criticize the transfer in Dallas, the truth is that it was the franchise itself that did not have it as a priority.
Undoing the mess
The Texans, led by Nico Harrison from the offices, faced the last weeks of the exchange market with two clear objectives: to get a center who would not leave all the interior tasks in the hands of a rookie as Lively and correct the mistake of getting Grant Williams in the previous offseason. Daniel Gafford was nothing short of a sure bet as rim runner offensive and intimidating at the back, as he had shown it even in a team as far from elite as the Washington Wizards in recent years.
With Williams there were more doubts. It was clear that the team could not lose depth on the wings, which they had suffered since the departure of Dorian Finney-Smith in the transfer of Irving. The forward himself, now with the Nets, was among the rumored moves. But there were two possible transfers that we now know were close to being made and which topped the priority list above Wqashigton.
The good relationship that the Mavericks developed with the Wizards in the last days of the market did not only revolve around Gafford. Days before, both franchises had discussed another move that was about to be made. Everything was ready for Kyle Kuzma to become a new Dallas player. But in Washington they have a habit of consulting their important players before making such a move. They already did it with Russell Westbrook when the Los Angeles Lakers window opened in 2021. Kuzma declined the transfer, alluding that, if he left, he would do so towards a contender. Evidently, he didn’t consider the Mavericks as such.
More NBAHow to watch NBA streaming online 2023 with League Pass on two devices?
The third time lucky
The second door the Mavericks knocked on was the one from Milwaukee to ask about Bobby Portis. As with Kuzma, Grant Williams and the possibility of adding that first-round pick in 2027 were on the negotiating table. The Bucks, built to remain contenders for a few more seasons, were not interested in receiving draft capital that they could not introduce in another operation, so they asked for some more players. Seth Curry was insufficient and increased the defensive defects that Wisconsin have suffered all season. Surely the Bucks would ask for Josh Green, Derrick Jones Jr. or both, which would end up ruining the deal.
Both operations present a completely different scenario than the one experienced. Kuzma already demonstrated in the Lakers that he can be a supportive scorer and a good defender in general, but he does not have Washington’s interior power except for his rebounding ability. Portis is a very different player on offense, who needs you to give him a certain prominence with the ball and in the post, which would change the perimeter physiognomy of the Mavs. In defense, his prototype would allow us to replicate Washington’s interior work, but he is very far from being a stopper in external individual defense.
There are times when a team is very clear about what signing they should make to make that leap. Tom Thibodeau was clear about it with Josh Hart and he made it known to Leon Rose. Brad Stevens was already in love with Derrick White before he came to the NBA. And the list can go on to infinity. Now it is not difficult to say that PJ Washington was the third most important signing of the final stretch of the last market after OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam. But, before he relapsed into it, he wasn’t even Nico Harrison’s second dish.
(Cover photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)
2024-05-28 15:00:00
#Washington #success #discard
