Since trading Dončić to the Lakers in February 2025, the Dallas Mavericks have rebooted with a new basketball operations staff led by Masai Ujiri and head coach Dusty May.
The decision-makers who green-lit an extension for Washington last summer are gone. The team is building around Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg, whose best position may be power forward. The team also recently acquired Santi Aldama and Zaccharie Risacher. Washington appears expendable with $88.8 million due over the next four seasons.
That’s the rub for the Lakers. They can add a player who helped Dončić get to the 2024 NBA Finals, but his contract may be too long for their liking. Washington, almost 28, is a 6’7″ role player willing to play defense, set screens, and take the open shot. He’s streaky, but shoots without hesitation when the offense calls for it.
Los Angeles would want to include Vanderbilt, who has a $13.3 million option for next season, along with Knecht or Hardy. That would keep the Lakers under the first apron and should allow them to use next year’s non-taxpayer mid-level exception (about $15.9 million) to improve the roster.
Kuminga may have greater upside on paper, but Washington is a better actual fit on the court.
