The Dallas Mavericks finally accepted what was clear to everyone else around them: they needed a makeover. That started with showing the exit door to the architect of the Luka Doncic trade. Nico Harrison was fired by the Mavericks on Tuesday.
Ever since that move, everyone has been looking at Dallas and asking when the inevitable fire sale and rebuild starts. There are certainly plenty of players on that roster who will warrant the attention of rival teams, including the Los Angeles Lakers.
Anthony Davis' future looks uncertain. Daniel Gafford has been in trade rumors as long as anyone can remember. Will Kyrie Irving be made available? Does Klay Thompson get sent elsewhere in hopes of reviving his fading skill set?
One lesser name that could be of great interest for a team like the Lakers is Naji Marshall. Marshall was brought in to be a role player around Doncic in Dallas, and barely got that opportunity. Rob Pelinka could give him the chance to play with Luka properly, in Los Angeles.
Naji Marshall's versatility would bolster the wings in Los Angeles
Buying in on Marshall should not cost a great deal for the Lakers. The Mavericks forward is making $9.0 million in the 2025-26 campaign, making him an easy salary match for Pelinka in any potential trade negotiations.
Past that, the Lakers would need to figure out what that extra compensation looks like to really drive the deal home. There are several expiring contracts in Los Angeles that should offer some appeal for a team readying themselves for a rebuild. Pelinka just needs that little bit of extra sweetener.
Marshall's defensive versatility would be a gift for the Lakers, especially for the modest price that he should be available for. The 27-year-old is capable of guarding multiple positions, and would offer great help to a unit still trying to hit their stride on that end.
The one area the Lakers would really want to see improvement out of Marshall would be the 3-point shooting. His career percentage is below average, and the last two seasons in Dallas have not been strong ones by any means.
Marshall did shoot 38.7 percent from beyond the arc during his final season with the New Orleans Pelicans. However, there is a case to be made that campaign is starting to look more like a statistical outlier.
Doncic does elevate the shooters around him with the type of shot quality they get from flanking the offensive juggernaut. That is where the hope would lie for a turnaround in that area.
Marshall may not be the sexiest name of all the talents who could be available for trade on the Mavericks. However, properly building a contender is never all about the big blockbuster moves. It is often the smaller maneuvers that can quietly make a large impact.