For too long, the Cleveland Cavaliers have been a good regular-season team, and not so great in the playoffs. They keep knocking on the door, but the same woes keep hurting their chances when it matters the most.
For lack of a better word, the Cavs are soft. That's just the way it is. They have talented players who can have big nights here and there, but they lack the killer mindset it takes to get the monkey off their back when it counts.
That's why, after missing out on LeBron James, they should be after some enforcers. And, given the current picture, Dallas Mavericks forward P.J. Washington might be the perfect guy to fit that role in Cleveland.
The Cleveland Cavaliers need someone like P.J. Washington
According to NBA insider Jake Weinbach, the Cavaliers circled P.J. Washington as a potential trade target for this offseason. Since they may not land Jonathan Kuminga or Peyton Watson, he might be a feasible alternative:
"The Cavaliers would be a team worth monitoring for PJ Washington with the Mavericks forward reportedly available on the trade market," Weinbach shared on X. "Cleveland’s interest level may depend on how the rest of free agency plays out, but Washington’s two-way skill set would be a desirable fit."
Washington can give this team some much-needed physicality in the frontcourt. He won't back down from confrontation, and his ability to defend big wings while also stretching the floor with his three-point shooting looks tailor-made for this team.
With Dean Wade no longer in town, Washington would take on that 3-and-D role. He's a jumbo forward who can stay in front of shooting guards, run through screens, guard both forward spots, and even play some small-ball five.
He's a rim-running threat, and that can always come in handy with James Harden's pick-and-roll expertise. Moreover, he's someone who's been there and done that, as he's already reached the NBA Finals in Dallas.
Washington is the type of guy who will dive for loose balls and do all the little things that help a team win. He'll also get on the opposition's face and pick up a tech to protect his teammates, and he might even take things a bit further with some physical defense and hard fouls if needed.
This team needs to add the intimidation factor. They have the talent, the shooting, and — at times — the defensive intensity. However, they don't scare anybody; they're just too good in a bad way, and you need some punch and ferocity in the playoffs.
P.J. Washington may not be Bill Laimbeer, but he can help in that regard. He embraced an enforcer role to protect Luka Doncic in Dallas, and he can do the same in Cleveland for Donovan Mitchell. This team needs character, and while he can also bring his two-way skill set to the table, perhaps that would be his biggest contribution to this team.
The Mavericks will likely field offers for him as they rebuild around Cooper Flagg and Morez Johnson Jr., but with four more years at a total of $88.8 million left in his contract, the Cavs might be able to get him for a reasonable price.
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