And it wasn\u2019t just his pairing with Flagg that struggled. Washington also posted a minus-10.7 net rating alongside Max Christie, the second-worst mark among Mavericks duos. As a result, Washington appears in two of Dallas\u2019 three worst high-minute lineups.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a striking revelation, considering Washington was once viewed as a key part of Dallas\u2019 future and played a meaningful role in the franchise\u2019s 2024 NBA Finals run. But in the NBA, fit and timing are everything, and Washington was a far better complement alongside the Mavericks’ former poster boy, Luka Doncic.<\/p>\n
His blend of physical defense and play-finishing ability meshed well with Doncic\u2019s heliocentric style. However, that same archetype overlap raises questions in his pairing with Flagg, who operates less as a traditional floor spacer and more as a slashing, connective forward who thrives attacking downhill and operating in the mid-range. That overlap also diminishes Washington\u2019s defensive value on the wing, with Flagg being a strong weakside shot-blocker and isolation defender in his own right.<\/p>\n
Therefore, Washington\u2019s role has become increasingly redundant alongside Flagg. Instead of complementing each other, their skill sets overlap in ways that diminish his long-term value<\/a> in Dallas\u2019 core rotation. As a result, rather than prioritizing a point guard, the Mavericks could pivot toward selecting a wing in the draft.<\/p>\n Mavericks could pivot draft plans if targets fall out of reach<\/p>\n It should be noted, however, that this upcoming draft class is flush with guards, with several point guard prospects projected in the 5-to-8 range. However, Dallas\u2019 draft position remains uncertain, and a slide to ninth could realistically take them out of range for targets such as Darius Acuff Jr., Mikel Brown Jr., Kingston Flemings, or Keaton Wagler.<\/p>\n If Dallas misses out on those top point guard targets, Brayden Burries and Nate Ament could emerge as alternative options. Burries profiles as a combo guard who has handled primary playmaking duties at Arizona, but projects more cleanly as a shooting guard at the next level. Ament, meanwhile, is a 6-foot-10 forward who projects as a modern three-level scorer with the size and skill set to operate across both forward spots.<\/p>\n
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