The Celtics remain on the hunt for upgrades with the trade deadline just three days away. One new name has emerged as a potential target on Monday: Mavericks forward Naji Marshall.
Boston is reportedly one of at least four teams that have inquired with the Mavericks about the 28-year-old forward according to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints. The Knicks, Pistons and Lakers are other teams that have also checked in on Marshall, a player the Mavericks are hesitant to move according to NBA insider Marc Stein.
Marshall is in the midst of a career year for Dallas, averaging 14.6 points and 5.0 rebounds per game while taking on a bigger offensive role with Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving sidelined. He’s also shooting an efficient 53 percent from the field but just 30.4 percent from 3-point range.
Marshall’s likely appeal to Boston and other playoff teams is his affordable contract. He earns just $9 million this year and remains under team control through next season at a similar salary ($9.4 million). He could make sense as a potential target for Boston in the event they lose a rotation guard or wing in a separate deal at the trade deadline.
The Mavericks are also shopping around plenty of other veterans at the trade deadline per reports including Daniel Gafford, Klay Thompson and D’Angelo Russell. The Celtics have been tied to Gafford as well as they survey the market for big man upgrades. The Mavericks are currently 19-30 and appear likely to retool their roster at the trade deadline to build more around rookie phenom Cooper Flagg moving forward.
The Celtics are scheduled to face off against Marshall and the Mavericks on Tuesday night in Dallas.
The NBA trade deadline is on Feb. 5 at 3 p.m.