NBA insider casts doubt that Lakers are going after P.J. Washington

If there is a definite weakness on the Los Angeles Lakers' remodeled roster, it is the team's lack of a starting two-way forward or wing. That is at least one reason why it has been looking to acquire Jonathan Kuminga over the last few weeks. Kuminga would be a sizable risk, given his below-average 3-point shooting, inconsistent defense, and suspect attitude, although his potential is still high. One alternative that Lakers fans have mentioned as a trade target is P.J. Washington, who currently plays for the Dallas Mavericks and spent some time alongside Luka Doncic there. Now that the Mavericks have given a significant contract extension to Naji Marshall, some feel Washington could be a bit expendable for them. However, NBA insider Jake Fischer says Los Angeles hasn’t made an attempt to acquire Washington. ‘I haven’t heard that the Lakers are making any pursuit of P.J. Washington,’ Fischer said. ‘His name just gets brought up by Lakers fans and Mavericks fans with that trade mechanism, but nothing I’ve actually heard behind the scenes.’ If there is a world where Washington is gettable for the Lakers and they are trying to get him, he could eventually be the final piece to a championship puzzle for them. At 6-foot-7 and 230 pounds, he can guard bigger forwards and smaller forwards, and he is above-average athletically and a capable complementary scorer. His 3-point shooting has been inconsistent over his seven NBA seasons, but he made 38.1% of his 4.2 3-point attempts a game during the 2024-25 season. Washington has career averages of 13.3 points and six rebounds a game, shooting 44.8% from the field and 35.4% from 3-point range since joining the league. He has four seasons left on his contract, with the final three years at over $21 million per annum. Khobi Price of the California Post reported that Washington's contract situation isn’t appealing to the Lakers.