Just a few months ago, P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford sat at the bottom of the table. The Charlotte Hornets, where Washington played, landed in 13th place for the East. The Washington Wizards, former home to Daniel Gafford, sit below them in 14th. Neither of these teams ever had a shot at seeing the playoffs. However, both Washington and Gafford will be playing in the Finals as teammates on the Dallas Mavericks. This will be a huge boost to both player’s careers even if they don’t win the chip.
P.J Washington’s Time with the Hornets
This season, Washington played 44 games with the Charlotte Hornets before his midseason switch. He was drafted to the North Carolina team back in 2019 as the 12th overall pick. In his first season, he averaged 12.2 points, 2.1 assists, and 5.4 rebounds per game. By 2023, he was averaging 13.6 points, 2.2 assists, and 5.3 rebounds per game before making the switch to Dallas. He was a consistent player for Charlotte. However, there was no chance he would ever see a Finals game with them any time soon.
After the Dallas Mavericks game five win against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the former Hornets player chose to troll the team online in a video of him and Gafford with the caption “From the bottom to the top.” Washington has clearly realized that this trade has opened up better opportunities for him as he is now part of a true championship contender.
Gafford’s Stint with the Wizards
Daniel Gafford started his NBA career with the Chicago Bulls, where he was drafted in round two at number 38 in 2019. His first two seasons in the NBA weren’t the best, but his stats picked up when he joined the Washington Wizards in 2020. Here, Gafford averaged 10.1 points, .5 assists, and 5.6 rebounds. He finished his time with Washington, averaging 10.9 points, 1.5 assists, and 8.0 rebounds. Just like P.J. Washington, Gafford wouldn’t see a playoff run if he hadn’t been traded.
In the series against Minnesota, Gafford played a key role. He was protecting the rim with efficiency and took down nine strong rebounds in game five. The center will need to continue to play solid defense to help his team overcome the Boston Celtics in the Finals. He will most likely have the job of containing star center Kristaps Porzingis. This makes him one of Dallas’ most important players for this series.
The Trade That Brought Them to Dallas
P.J. Washington was acquired by Dallas in a trade that sent Grant Williams, Seth Curry, and a 2027 first-round pick to Charlotte. Before the trade, Williams was giving the Mavs 13.9 points, 3.2 assists, and 5.2 rebounds per game. These are decent stats, but it is believed that the forward was causing locker-room drama. Seth Curry’s 36 games with Dallas weren’t great, and he ended the season with his lowest three-point percentage at 35.2. It’s safe to say that this trade worked out for Dallas right now.
The Mavs got Gafford in a trade with the Wizards that sent center Richaun Holmes and a 2024 first-round pick to the District. Holmes’ numbers with Dallas weren’t great, as he was just averaging 3.4 points, .7 assists, and 3.4 rebounds. It’s safe to say Daniel Gafford was a better fit for the team and the right move to make, as the Mavs desperately needed to get stronger role players.
About the Author
Elizabeth is an avid watcher of all things sports. However, the Boston sports teams will always be her number one. Her favorite sport to watch is basketball, but she also enjoys professional wrestling, soccer, and baseball. She also loves writing about anything ranging from sports articles to short stories and poems. She hopes to one day write her own sci-fi series and adventure series. You can find her on X @edellapiana1 to check out more content.
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