Mavericks fan-favorite enforcer must obliterate glaring issue to avoid being traded

The Dallas Mavericks head into the offseason with many questions. The team must figure out how to replicate Kyrie Irving's success while he is out with his ACL tear, assuming he stays in Dallas. He will likely sign an extension to stay with the Mavs this summer, but anything is possible with Nico Harrison in charge, especially after we saw what happened with the way they handled the Luka Doncic situation.

One possible replacement until Irving comes back is Brandon Williams. The savvy guard had a breakout season with the Mavs, becoming a primary facilitator for the team. Williams averaged 8.3 points per game and shot 52.1 percent from the field in 33 games with Dallas. The Mavericks, though, must proceed with caution next season when it comes to Williams. Giving him the keys to the offense this early could be a bit of an overstatement, and they must sign more guard depth to help hold them over until Irving returns.

It's clear the Mavs trust Williams more than Spencer Dinwiddie. In his second stint with the team, Dinwiddie took a step backward. He struggled to stay consistent, as his shot selection became questionable, and his defense took a major hit. Coach Jason Kidd lost his trust in Dinwiddie when he played him a total of six minutes during the final two play-in games. All signs point to him not returning for the Mavs this offseason, as he is an unrestricted free agent.

Naji Marshall must improve as a shooter before it's too late

One player, though, who is set to return to the Dallas Mavericks is Naji Marshall. He still has two years remaining on his three-year $27 million contract he signed with Dallas in July. This means he is on a super team-friendly deal, where he only makes $9 million per season. In simple terms, Dallas could easily trade Marshall if they so pleased, as he quickly outplayed his contract and showed he is worth much more. However, Dallas isn't there yet.

Last season, the Mavs signed Marshall in hopes of getting a perimeter defender who could shoot the ball well from long range. Dallas, though, got one of those things, as Marshall proved to be a reliable defender. He used his size and versatility to lock down scorers. Marshall also brought the toughness and energy for the team, as he wasn't afraid to do the dirty work.

Shooting-wise, Marshall took a step back, though. He shot 27.5 from the 3-point line in his first season with the Mavs, a major drop from his prior season with the New Orleans Pelicans. During the 2023-24 season, Marshall converted 38.7 percent of his long-range attempts. This was concerning, as Dallas signed Marshall with the intent to be a strong 3-and-D player. He lacked in the top portion, with his 3-point shooting taking a hit.

Marshall missed all seven 3-point attempts during his first month with the team. He improved the following month, as he shot 34.1 percent. Things continued to improve in December, when he converted 41.7 percent of his 3-point attempts.

However, after 2025 hit, his numbers started to go down. He shot 30 percent in January, 25.6 percent in February, and 23.7 percent in March. Marshall had a rough stretch in April when he failed to make a single 3-pointer during his first three games. However, he did make his only 3-point attempt in the team's final play-in game.

Offensively, Marshall isn't a bad scorer. He averaged 13.2 points per game this season, shooting 50.8 percent overall. Marshall was an important player down the stretch for Dallas, starting the team's final two play-in games. He had a solid outing against the Memphis Grizzlies. Marshall scored 13 points and converted 71.4 percent of his shots.

One thing about Marshall is his ability to score inside the paint. He does a great job attacking the rim and using his body to sink a floater inside. His floater became one of the team's deadliest weapons during the final stretch, as defenders had no answer.

So, it's clear Marshall is a great scorer who can help Dallas as a secondary ball handler. His outside shooting, though, needs work if he hopes to leap with the team's new offense. His 3-point shooting will be important, as Anthony Davis will need all the outside help. The Mavs' outside shooting must be one of the team's strengths if they hope to make that next leap, as they struggled from downtown after the trade deadline.

It all starts with Marshall. As mentioned, Dallas likely signed him with the intent of being a key 3-point shooter. So, while there are no signs of him being traded, Marshall must improve his outside shooting. Dallas' new-look squad, in which they play Davis at the four and either Dereck Lively II or Daniel Gafford, will only work if Kidd surrounds them with shooters, and Marshall must return to being an efficient shooter to fit into these lineups.