De'Andre Hunter, Rui Hachimura, Lakers
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Rui Hachimura of the Los Angeles Lakers guards De'Andre Hunter who was traded to the Sacramento Kings.
The Los Angeles Lakers’ list of realistic trade targets is shrinking fast as the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline approaches.
After missing out on De’Andre Hunter and Keon Ellis over the weekend, the Lakers appear poised to go 0-for-3 on another name that had been quietly linked to them: Naji Marshall.
NBA insider Marc Stein reported Sunday that the Dallas Mavericks have no interest in moving Marshall at this stage, dealing another blow to the Lakers’ efforts to upgrade their wing depth without sacrificing premium assets.
“I’m told that Dallas does not want to trade Naji Marshall or Christie — who arrived in Dallas alongside Davis — while continuing to explore potential moves involving Daniel Gafford, Klay Thompson and D’Angelo Russell,” Stein wrote in The Stein Line.
Lakers Miss Out on Hunter, Ellis in Multi-Team Trade
The news comes one day after the Lakers were bypassed in a multi-team trade that sent Hunter and Ellis elsewhere.
On Saturday, the Cleveland Cavaliers acquired Hunter, Ellis and Dennis Schroder in a deal that saw Sacramento land Hunter as its lone incoming player. Chicago served as a facilitator, absorbing Dario Saric in exchange for two future second-round picks.
For the Lakers, the transaction underscored a growing reality: teams around the league are increasingly willing to pay premium prices for versatile wings, while Los Angeles remains constrained by limited draft capital and salary-matching challenges.
Marshall Viewed as a Practical Lakers Target
GettyNaji Marshall of the Dallas Mavericks drew interest from the Los Angeles Lakers.
Marshall had surfaced as one of the Lakers’ more attainable targets precisely because he did not fit the “blockbuster or bust” profile.
In the aftermath of the Hunter-Ellis deal, an NBA executive told Heavy Sports’ Sean Deveney that Marshall was next on the Lakers’ internal list.
“I’d keep an eye on Naji Marshall,” the executive said. “If you’re not making a big swing on Giannis or someone like that, then he’s a guy who makes sense. He can play a few positions, he can guard a few positions, he can make shots. He’s one of those role stars.”
The executive added that Dallas had previously sought a first-round pick for Marshall, though league executives believed that price could eventually soften for the right contender.
Interest in Marshall was not limited to the Lakers. According to the executive, Golden State, New York and Detroit had also monitored his availability, particularly if larger superstar-level pursuits stalled.
Career Year Raises Marshall’s Market Value
Marshall’s rising value helps explain Dallas’ reluctance to move him.
The 28-year-old forward is enjoying the most productive season of his career, averaging 14.6 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.9 assists while shooting 54.4% from the field — a mark that ranks among the top 20 in the NBA.
His versatility on both ends has made him a fixture in Dallas’ rotation. While his outside shooting remains the weakest part of his offensive profile — Marshall is converting just 30.4% of his 2.8 three-point attempts per game — his ability to defend multiple positions and attack closeouts has elevated his leaguewide appeal.
High-End Wings Remain Out of Lakers’ Price Range
With Marshall effectively off the table, the Lakers’ alternatives appear even less attainable.
Los Angeles previously inquired about Andrew Wiggins, but Miami’s asking price proved prohibitive. Now, the Heat are holding on to Wiggins as they hope to include him in their potential Giannis Antetokounmpo package. New Orleans has consistently rebuffed interest in Trey Murphy III and Herb Jones, with league sources indicating the Pelicans would require a Desmond Bane-level return to even engage in talks.
“What would it take to get the Pelicans to relent?” Stein wrote last month. “They would want a Desmond Bane-type offer.”
Orlando paid four future first-round picks and a swap to acquire Bane last summer — a price point far beyond the Lakers’ reach.
As the trade deadline nears, the Lakers are increasingly boxed into a familiar corner: limited flexibility, rising prices, and few remaining paths to a meaningful upgrade.