What can we expect from PJ Washington and Daniel Gafford

To start, only good things. These 2 players are going to elevate the Maverick's ability on both the offensive and defensive front. We can start with the DG rundown though

Daniel Gafford has almost the same play style as Dereck Lively. A vertical rolling, rimrunning big, that has an innate ability to catch lobs. Luka Doncic and the Mavs offense thrives on weakening defenses, drawing help-side defenders in, and finding the open man. Previously when we only had DL2, The starting lineup would get off to a healthy start for the beginning of the game, with Luka and Kyrie operating in the PnR, doing as I mentioned, breaking down the help defense and hitting the corner, and when the teams adjusted and didn't send help due to fear of the open 3, a simple lob and jam to DL2 would solve the scoring issue. The issues arise when we get into the bench with Maxi Kleber and Dwight Powell. Maxi is a pick-and-pop guy, not a roller, and when DP rolls to the bucket, teams love to foul, knowing he is a poor free-throw shooter. Not only that but the team struggles in rebounding, defending, and blocking shots when we get into the bench. 

The impact Daniel Gafford is going to have on the boards is astronomical. He and Lively are consistently crashing the offensive boards, with DG being in the 99th percentile for offensive rebounding, and averaging upwards of 2 in Washington, only averaging 27 MPG. And for a team that shoots a high volume of 3-pointers, offensive rebounding is the key to winning games. 

PJ Washington is an athletic threat. When we compare him to his previous counterpart grant williams, the upgrade is astronomical. Offensively, Grant was shooting 37% from 3, and 41% from the floor, mind you with a high percentage of his shots being wide open from the defensive attention Luka and Kyrie draw. PJ shoots 44% from the field, and 32% from the 3. Worse 3 point stats than Grant but like any player who shares the court with Luka Doncic, those numbers are bound to increase. Not only that but PJ's confidence and ability to play the ball off of the bounce, and attack closeouts is another attributing factor. PJ is an extremely athletic player, and with a 7'2 wingspan, he can elevate and score close to the rim at a high clip. 

Defensively both of these guys are going to contribute to depth. This is a wild stat I heard the other day. The Dallas Mavericks are 2ND in defensive rating when Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, Josh Green, Derrick Jones Jr, and Dereck Lively are on the floor. The Maverick's defensive issues don't come from the starting lineup. With added depth, and Maxi now moving to play the 4, a bench rotation of Tim Hardaway Jr, Dante Exum/Jaden Hardy, Derrick Jones Jr., Maxi Kleber, and Daniel Gafford can be a serious challenge for other teams. 

Both of these players are going to prove exponential if the Mavericks want to make a deep run in the playoffs with this incredibly talented Western conference.