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Tim MacMahon, ESPN Staff Writer
The Dallas Mavericks are nearing trades to acquire center Daniel Gafford from the Washington Wizards and forward P.J. Washington from the Charlotte Hornets, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
The Mavericks have agreed to send center Richaun Holmes and draft compensation to the Wizards for Gafford, while trading forward Grant Williams, guard Seth Curry and their lightly protected 2027 first-round draft pick to the Hornets for Washington, sources said.
Gafford has averaged 10.9 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game as the Wizards’ starter this season. He will likely be a backup to rookie Dereck Lively II, providing the Mavericks another quality lob threat and rim protector.
Washington averaged 13.6 points and 5.3 rebounds in 44 games this season for the Hornets. He will replace Williams, a part-time starter who averaged 8.1 points and 3.6 rebounds per game for the Mavs, in Dallas’ forward rotation.
Washington becomes the third high-profile player recently traded away by the rebuilding Hornets, who dealt Gordon Hayward to the Thunder earlier Thursday and also sent Terry Rozier to the Heat last month.
Williams was the Mavs’ major addition in last summer’s free agency market, coming to Dallas from the Celtics on a four-year, $53 million deal in a sign-and-trade deal in which the Mavs sent 2030 first-round swap rights to the Spurs.
Holmes, whom Dallas acquired from the Kings in a draft-day deal that also landed first-round pick Olivier-Maxence Prosper, averaged 3.4 points and 3.4 rebounds in 23 games for the Mavericks. He has a $12.9 million player option for next season.
Gafford, 25, is owed $12.4 million, $13.4 million and $14.4 million, respectively, over the next three seasons.
Washington, 25, is owed $15.5 million next season and $14.2 million in 2025-26.
Lively, the 12th overall pick, has established himself as an essential part of the Mavericks’ core, averaging 9.2 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.4 blocks while shooting 73.9% from the floor.
He is recovering from surgery to repair his broken nose, and adding quality depth behind him was a priority for Dallas.
The Mavericks are 22-14 with Lively in the lineup and 6-9 in the games that he has missed entering Thursday night.
Source: www.espn.com