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00:00 [BLANK_AUDIO]
00:03 >> Hi everyone, thanks for being here today for
00:05 our introductory press conference with BJ Washington Jr. and Daniel Gafford.
00:10 In a moment I'm gonna turn it to our President of Basketball Operations and
00:14 GM, Igo Harrison for some opening remarks and then we'll go into questions.
00:19 If you have a question, please raise your hands.
00:23 Kyle and Tien have the mics and we'll come around and find you and
00:26 please state your name and affiliation.
00:28 [BLANK_AUDIO]
00:30 So without further ado, Igo, take it away.
00:34 >> Good morning everyone, thanks for being here.
00:36 We're super excited as an organization to introduce both these guys.
00:40 The trade deadline, as you know, is always kind of a hectic thing, but
00:44 we came in there with three goals and we feel like we accomplished them.
00:48 We wanted to get bigger, we wanted to get more depth, and
00:50 we also wanted to get some more scoring in the front court.
00:53 And these gentlemen, they represent all of that.
00:57 So we're really excited to have them.
00:59 And we think we did accomplish our goals and
01:03 we think that our team is better because of that.
01:05 >> We'll go to questions.
01:08 [BLANK_AUDIO]
01:10 Skyler.
01:11 [BLANK_AUDIO]
01:14 >> Skyler Dixon with the AP, are you guys gonna play today?
01:17 >> Yeah.
01:18 >> [LAUGH] >> Hell yeah.
01:22 >> [LAUGH]
01:24 [BLANK_AUDIO]
01:26 >> Chris Henderson, cndo.com.
01:28 So PJ, back home, how does it feel for you growing up as a Mavs fan,
01:33 watching guys like Dirk being able to play for this team?
01:36 >> I feel like it all come full circle for me.
01:38 Obviously growing up here as a kid, I've always wanted to play here.
01:40 So just being here, it's been a dream come true and
01:44 I'm just excited to get started.
01:45 [BLANK_AUDIO]
01:52 >> Tim McMahon, ESPN.
01:53 I got one for both you guys.
01:55 Daniel, I'll start with you.
01:57 Obviously, this team seems to play to your strengths in terms of lob,
02:01 threat, rim runner, that sort of thing.
02:04 How do you envision kind of the tag team with you and Lively working out?
02:07 And what are your thoughts on his game at this point?
02:12 >> With Lively, I mean, I see a lot of similarities, for sure.
02:16 When I first played against him when I was at Washington, I was just like, man,
02:19 it's like I'm playing against myself at the end of the day.
02:22 But really just, it's gonna be a one, two punch, no matter how the lineup is.
02:27 It's gonna be, for sure, the other team is gonna be like, damn.
02:30 >> [LAUGH] >> I can't really just keep these guys
02:33 out the glass, can't really just keep these guys from having energy at the end
02:36 of the day, they're gonna be flying around everywhere.
02:38 I do a lot of screaming, I don't know if Lively does, but for sure.
02:41 [LAUGH] It's gonna be just a lot of energy.
02:43 And I mean, I can't wait for it, I'm really excited.
02:45 So no sky's the limit for us.
02:47 >> And then PJ, obviously Luke and Kyrie,
02:51 gonna have the ball in their hands a lot, they get doubled a ton.
02:54 How do you envision yourself fitting with them?
02:57 How do you think you can adapt your game to kind of maximize your strengths,
03:03 playing with those two guys?
03:04 >> I think it's gonna be great.
03:05 They bring so much attention, so it's gonna be a lot of open shots.
03:09 It's gonna be great for me to be myself and just come in and do what I do.
03:13 So I'm just excited to bring versatility and
03:15 come out here and play on both ends of the floor.
03:17 [BLANK_AUDIO]
03:21 >> Landon Thomas, Mavs Fans for Life.
03:23 First, Daniel, each season you played with the Wizards,
03:27 you had a different point guard.
03:29 What specifically excites you about playing with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving?
03:34 >> We're just kind of piggybacking off what PJ said.
03:38 They bring a lot of attention and just pretty much them getting downhill.
03:41 Something that's gonna be good for me because all I gotta do is find the right
03:44 spot at the right time, be in the right position to where I can either get a rebound
03:47 or I can just catch a lob at the end of the day.
03:50 And just being with two guys like that, Kyrie was my favorite kind of point guard
03:53 growing up in high school and stuff ever since the Kyrie one.
03:56 So I'm really excited to be playing with both of these guys at the end of the day.
03:59 >> And PJ, what area of your game specifically are you looking forward
04:06 to showcasing here with the Dallas Mavericks that maybe you didn't
04:10 with the Charlotte Hornets?
04:12 >> For me, I just wanna be very versatile on the defensive end,
04:15 guarding multiple positions and just showing how good I can be on that end.
04:19 I feel like obviously Charlotte, we weren't really good at defense, but
04:22 I feel like I can bring a lot of defense to this team.
04:25 >> Hey, Gangster from Lockdown Network.
04:28 Starting with PJ, both of you guys were not in a situation where your teams were
04:31 fighting for playoff position.
04:33 Now the Mavericks are, they're in this run, and
04:34 it's really heated right now and they need every game.
04:37 What have you guys thought about the transition from going from a team like
04:39 that to now, every game matters?
04:42 >> It's exciting.
04:43 It's everything you want as a player in the NBA to be on a team that's trying to
04:47 contend and win, so I think it's great.
04:50 I'm just super excited to be here and I can't wait to get started.
04:52 >> It's for sure taking the next step in the right direction.
04:56 I mean, you go from a team to where we weren't able to be in a position to
05:00 where we are now is just kind of like locking in again, for sure.
05:04 It's kind of like the start of another season for us.
05:06 So pretty much coming in and just picking up where we was left off in the last game
05:10 from the last team that we were on, I would say.
05:12 >> Rashad Miller, Dallas Weekly.
05:16 This is a two part question.
05:18 The first one is, I know Nico talked in New York about you guys defensive presence,
05:25 but what do you give on the offensive side?
05:28 >> I feel like I mean, I shoot the three ball, I can drive close outs,
05:34 I can play make so for me just being versatile like I said and
05:38 just doing all those things at a very high level.
05:39 I mean, every chance I get, I try to be on the rim at the end of the day,
05:44 blocking shots, rebounding the ball,
05:47 just putting myself in the right position at the right time.
05:49 So yeah, pretty much it for me.
05:51 >> And the second question is, the Mavericks have gotten way younger than
05:56 in the past.
05:57 How does it feel to be a part of that young group?
05:59 >> It feels great.
06:00 I mean, we still young so to just be here with a bunch of young guys that are very
06:04 talented and ready to win is all you want.
06:06 So we're excited.
06:08 Yeah, I'd say just coming in and just seeing just the age and how young they're.
06:14 For sure that from the team that I was with to the team that I'm on now,
06:18 it's really a dope experience that I'm really waiting for.
06:21 At the end of the day, I'm excited and I can't wait to get going.
06:25 My bad.
06:25 >> Hi, this is Dorothy Gentry with iMessenger Media.
06:29 It's a question for both of you.
06:30 Talk a little bit about your motivation.
06:32 What gets you going?
06:34 What gets you out of bed in the morning?
06:36 >> My motivation for me, my kids, seeing them and
06:41 just wanna do everything I can for them and put them in a better position in their
06:44 lives and hopefully one day they're on this stage and playing basketball as well.
06:48 >> Mine is my family.
06:50 Being in Dallas, I'm very much more closer to my hometown now.
06:55 I'm like three hours away from my home.
06:56 Well, three, four, five hours.
06:58 Ain't nobody really paying attention to it.
07:00 >> [LAUGH] >> But I'm a lot more closer to home and
07:05 just having my city just be excited for me to be a lot more closer to them is just
07:09 something that kind of pushes me to be the best that I can be.
07:12 I have my family behind me and everybody from my family to my city,
07:15 they're pushing me to be the best player I can be.
07:17 So that's what wakes me up every morning, gets my blood boiling.
07:20 >> Yeah, PJ, you mentioned growing up here.
07:25 I know you went to high school here for a while.
07:28 What years did you kind of grow up here?
07:30 And what are some of your fondest memories of maybe going to Mavs games?
07:34 >> So I got here in first grade and then I left my sophomore year of high school.
07:39 And growing up, I mean, I always was playing basketball, but
07:42 one of my team sponsors, he had season tickets right next to the Maniacs.
07:45 So we used to come to all the home games and I loved it.
07:49 So I'm just excited to be here and excited to live out this opportunity.
07:54 >> And then as the trade deadline neared, I mean, obviously,
07:57 you probably had a pretty good idea that Dallas was interested in you.
08:00 How excited maybe did your family start getting at that point?
08:03 >> I think I was more excited than anybody, but
08:05 I just couldn't wait for it to happen.
08:08 So I mean, for me, it's just a dream come true.
08:10 I think all of them are gonna be here.
08:11 So I had a bunch of family and friends hitting me up.
08:14 So everybody's been asking me for tickets.
08:16 So I'm just trying to figure that one out right now.
08:18 [LAUGH] >> Something that, or
08:21 Joey, misinterpreted with clutch points,
08:22 something that fans are always curious about, the process of finding out you
08:25 were traded, start with PJ, but it's for both you guys.
08:28 How did that process happen?
08:29 And how did you guys find out?
08:32 >> I was at a restaurant, me and my wife, and she asked me a question.
08:36 She was like, what would you do if you got traded to the Mavs right now?
08:40 And it was literally not three minutes later, I had got traded to the Mavs.
08:44 So I literally jumped out of the restaurant and ran to the car and
08:47 was just excited.
08:48 So for me, it's nothing but excitement.
08:51 I couldn't sleep, and I'm just ready to start playing.
08:53 >> I was on the way to the facility to get ready for
08:58 the field and recovery at the time.
09:00 Then he gave me a call, let me know.
09:03 As soon as I got through the gate, that's when I had found out.
09:05 So I kinda went in, said my goodbyes, let everybody know that it's not gonna be
09:10 the last time they see me, but it's gonna be the last time I'll be in a Wizards
09:12 jersey, most definitely.
09:13 So it was a real kind of weird experience, cuz I was like, okay, bet,
09:18 going in, lock in, get ready for the next game.
09:20 Now I'm getting ready to go to another city.
09:22 So it was just something that I was used to from getting traded from Chicago.
09:27 So now, just another step in my chapter of my book.
09:30 >> Abby Jones, Ballet Sports Southwest, question for both of you.
09:34 Past players, present players, with Luke Adonchik talking about being his teammate
09:39 brings out the best of their ability as a player.
09:40 What are you both looking forward to learning about your game or
09:44 working on in your game playing with a player of that caliber?
09:47 >> I think just playing with a guy like that is gonna be great for our games.
09:52 Just bring, it's gonna showcase us a lot more.
09:55 Just being on a bright stage and playing with a guy like that,
09:57 I mean, he's an MVP in his league for sure.
10:00 I mean, I think he's just a great player and
10:02 just to be able to be alongside him is gonna be great.
10:05 >> Yeah, piggybacking off that, I mean, just like I've said from just my position,
10:11 being in the right spot at the right time.
10:12 Just learning different ways on how to just be kind of like a threat on offense,
10:16 I mean, just being in the window for any guy to find me, like Luka, Kyrie, so on and
10:20 so forth, and just being able to show just the offensive ability that I have.
10:26 And just, like I said, being ready for anything.
10:28 >> Chuck Cooperstein, Mavs Radio, Play by Play.
10:32 Dan, I guess you'll get to see your guys on Monday, so it won't be that long.
10:36 But okay, you guys, hear about the trade.
10:39 Give us what the last 40 hours has been like since,
10:43 when did you get on a plane to get here?
10:45 Have you worked out?
10:46 I mean, have you gotten at least the Reader's Digest version of the playbook?
10:51 Give us a sense of what that's all about, both you guys.
10:53 >> So I mean, I got traded and then got on a flight, got here at midnight.
10:59 Woke up the next morning around like 7, went through all my testing and stuff.
11:03 Then got pretty much got the playbook, got adjusted to everything, and
11:07 now we're here, so ready to play.
11:11 >> Yeah, pretty much the same for me.
11:12 Got here at midnight, woke up the next morning, did physicals.
11:15 Did all the medical stuff, came to the facility.
11:19 Got used to some of the stuff from the playbook and
11:21 some of the defensive schemes, but now we're here for sure.
11:24 >> Hi, Dana Larson with Mavs Pre and Post Game Show.
11:29 This Mavs season has just been filled with tons of injuries.
11:33 Both of you guys have proven to be very durable.
11:37 How much do you take pride in the availability part of playing in this league?
11:41 >> That's the best ability is being available.
11:43 So for me, I take pride in being able to play and I just love being able to be out
11:48 there for my teammates and support them.
11:50 So I'm gonna do everything I can to just be out there.
11:52 >> Yeah, same.
11:53 At the end of the day, I try to make sure I hold myself accountable.
11:56 We're taking care of my body, no matter if I have a crazy injury or
12:00 minor injury, whatever it is, I manage to try to stay on top of it.
12:04 At the end of the day, I just try to make sure I'm available, be out there for
12:07 the team, be the energy guy, just doing all the dirty work.
12:11 >> Kevin Gray, Mavs Radio.
12:12 This question is for Nico.
12:14 When you look at what you moved in order to get both PJ and
12:18 Daniel, knowing what kind of draft capital you had to move as well,
12:21 how do you feel like this team is now set up for the next couple of years,
12:23 given some of the things that you'll be looking forward to,
12:26 as far as the roster construction is concerned?
12:28 How are you feeling about the direction of where this team is based on what you've
12:31 acquired now?
12:32 >> Yeah, I feel great about it, honestly.
12:34 You gotta give a little bit to get what you want.
12:37 And so I think that it was what we gave up was worth what we're getting in return.
12:42 And I also wanna say PJ talked about defense.
12:44 And so one of the things you guys don't know is PJ's super talented and
12:49 the game comes easy to him.
12:50 And I love the fact that he talked about defense,
12:52 cuz we're gonna be holding him accountable.
12:54 But he can actually do a lot of things that he doesn't show all the time,
12:59 because the game does come easy to him.
13:00 So we make sure to push him to get the best out of him.
13:03 But he really does have it on both sides of the ball.
13:08 >> PJ, just going back to, you said three hours before the trade was official,
13:12 your wife asked you, what would you think or
13:15 what would you say if you were traded to the Mavs?
13:17 What was your response?
13:19 >> I told her I was gonna run out the restaurant, and then I ended up doing it.
13:22 So, yeah.
13:23 >> [LAUGH] >> And then just for both of y'all,
13:26 just y'all talked a lot about basketball, but
13:30 what do y'all like to do outside of basketball?
13:31 >> Relax, get some rest, be with my family.
13:35 Spend a lot of time with my kids, watch them grow, and play a lot of video games.
13:39 >> [COUGH] >> 2K.
13:41 >> 2K.
13:41 [LAUGH] >> I'm pretty much the same.
13:45 I'm a real family oriented person.
13:47 So spend a lot of time with the wife, spend a lot of time with my dogs.
13:50 I got four dogs.
13:51 I pretty much just find any type of way to kinda decompress, relax,
13:55 clear my mind, clear my body at the end of the day.
13:57 And I play video games too.
13:59 I play a wide variety.
14:01 I stream a lot too.
14:02 So I try whenever I have a decent amount of time on my hands, at least for
14:06 sure, get some type of screen time.
14:08 >> What's your favorite game?
14:09 >> My favorite game right now, Call of Duty, most definitely.
14:14 But Need for Speed is second to that right now.
14:16 >> We'll do a few more, guys.
14:19 Skyler.
14:19 >> Nico, obviously your job from day one has been building around Luka.
14:24 How do you balance, this is three years in a row that you've had a significant
14:28 roster change close to the deadline.
14:30 How do you balance the continuity part with getting that roster where you want it?
14:33 >> Yeah, good question.
14:36 I think it's, I believe our core is still intact.
14:39 We just added more talent and depth to the core.
14:42 And so I think you do wanna keep a core intact so that you can build upon it,
14:47 versus it's just turnover, turnover, turnover.
14:49 So I think our core is intact, and
14:52 we just added pieces that can add to it and make us better.
14:58 >> Rashad Miller again, this is for Daniel.
15:01 How soon do you think your family from Arkansas is gonna be here?
15:04 >> If not today, probably Monday.
15:07 [LAUGH] Yeah, so it was a lot that I've seen from just the past couple of hours.
15:14 In all honesty, everybody was excited, even before the trade talks,
15:18 when they were saying, they were seeing that Dallas was interested in me.
15:22 My phone lit up, they were all happy for it.
15:24 They were all happy for me, they was all excited.
15:26 So yeah, sooner or later, at the end of the day.
15:29 I can't believe that they didn't make it anywhere up here today, but for
15:32 sure, probably Monday, most definitely.
15:35 >> Do one more, Dorothy.
15:36 >> This is for Daniel.
15:38 I know you played football a little bit.
15:39 Do you still follow football, and who do you have tomorrow?
15:42 >> [LAUGH] Yeah, I played football for one year.
15:45 I couldn't catch a cold if it was given to me.
15:46 >> [LAUGH] >> But I got the 49ers tomorrow,
15:51 most definitely.
15:53 And I don't really keep up with it as much.
15:55 Of course, pay attention to the scores, the highlights and all that.
15:58 But really just sitting down and just kind of watching it,
16:01 I don't really find myself doing it as often.
16:03 >> Did football help you with basketball?
16:05 >> Yeah, it helped me be a little bit more aggressive.
16:07 But with my hands, yeah, I just had to stick to basketball.
16:09 >> [LAUGH] >> Thank you.
16:11 >> All right, thank you guys.
16:12 And now we're gonna do a quick photo, bring the jerseys up.
16:15 [BLANK_AUDIO]
16:25 [INAUDIBLE]
16:35 >> You guys good?
16:47 >> I'm good, Vernon.
16:48 I'm jumping front.
16:49 >> All right.
16:50 Thank you guys.