Mavericks' biggest steal from 2024 is foolishly still being overlooked

The Dallas Mavericks pulled off a massive steal on opening night of free agency last summer when they signed Naji Marshall to a three-year, $27 million deal, and heading into the 2025-26 season, this move is somehow still being overlooked despite being one of the best-value signings of the offseason.

This move confused Mavs fans at first, as it was a direct message that Derrick Jones Jr. wouldn't be returning, but he provided just as much of an impact in his first season in Dallas. Marshall averaged 13.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.0 steals per game while shooting 50.8 percent from the field, showing fans exactly why Nico Harrison wanted to bring him in.

These types of numbers, despite only earning $9 million annually, are unheard of in today's NBA, and NBA fans and media will regret sleeping on him. All eyes will be on the Mavericks as Cooper Flagg makes his NBA debut, and with this increased buzz surrounding Dallas, Marshall will prove to everyone why he deserves more hype heading into next season.

Naji Marshall will let his game speak volumes next season

He will once again play a major role in Dallas, especially while Kyrie Irving is out with his torn ACL, and his versatility is one thing that Jason Kidd got the most out of in his first season with the team. He played every position on the floor, including point guard and even some center for the Mavs last season, and he thrived wherever Kidd placed him.

Whether he was showing off his passing with flashy dishes in transition or locking down on defense on the other end, Marshall showed NBA fans why he is one of the best X-factor players in the league. He was one of the Mavs' most consistent players during the most cursed season in franchise history, and his impact goes far beyond the stat sheet.

While Marshall's 13.2 points per game are extremely impressive, especially considering that he was a bench player for most of the season, his intangibles were just as important. Mavericks fans will always remember him thanks to his unstoppable floater, relentless driving and finishing at the rim, and no-look dimes and timely lobs, but his connectivity is arguably one of the biggest things that made him such a great fit into the Mavs' offense.

3.0 assists per game is solid for a player who is listed as a wing, but his assist numbers don't tell the entire story. Marshall keeps the ball moving within the flow of the offense, and the ball doesn't stick with him when Dallas is swinging it around the perimeter.

If he doesn't have an open drive or an open look from beyond the arc, Marshall will make the extra pass to one of his teammates, and these types of players are invaluable. Especially for a team like Dallas that is heavily based on star power from Anthony Davis, Irving, and now Flagg.

This remains true when Marshall is pushing the ball in transition, as he always makes the right throw-ahead pass or hits his teammate in stride for a layup or dunk, and his unselfishness in transition and in the half-court make him special.

Marshall isn't the type of player who is always looking for his own shot, but when he is, it typically results in a made layup or floater. He ended up being one of the best finishers in the NBA by the end of last season, and the Mavs will need plenty more of this out of him next season while Irving is sidelined.

He is bound to have a major role off the bench, and we could see him putting up similar stats from last season if he can improve his 3-point shooting off the catch (which he is heavily focused on, per an exclusive chat with The Smoking Cuban earlier this offseason). This was arguably his biggest weakness last season, and Dallas will need him to take a step in the right direction as a shooter since their spacing was already questionable at the end of last season.

Marshall will quickly find himself as a marquee player for the Mavs in 2025 just like he was in 2024, and anyone who didn't buy stock on him last year will be regretting it.