Mavericks wing zeroes in on game-changing fix to unlock limitless domination

Last offseason, one of the most shocking developments of the opening night of free agency was the Dallas Mavericks signing Naji Marshall to a three-year deal. Marshall was long reported to be Dallas' backup option if they didn't re-sign Derrick Jones Jr., but most everyone expected Jones Jr. to be back after the team made the NBA Finals with him as the starting wing.

Now, just over a year later, Marshall has proven that he was an excellent signing, and he is honing in on working on one area of his game that would make him unstoppable next season. After playing as a guest for Cook Up in the SwinCity League on Sunday, Marshall told The Smoking Cuban that he has been working on his jump shot more than anything else this offseason, along with his conditioning.

Marshall's 3-point jumper was ultimately one of his weaknesses last season, as he shot 27.5 percent from three after shooting 38.7 percent in his final year with the New Orleans Pelicans, and he is locked in on taking a step in the right direction in this area. He said he has been working tirelessly on his game this summer, mentioning that he has been working with both Phil Handy as well as Keith Vaney.

Naji Marshall's 3-point shooting focus will be a game-changer for Dallas

With the Mavs' dedication to running double-big lineups with Anthony Davis at the four and Dereck Lively II or Daniel Gafford at the five, they need as much shooting as they can get around them. Toward the end of last season, Dallas struggled from downtown as they made the second-least threes per game in the NBA during February, March, and April, with only the Orlando Magic making fewer.

In this span, Dallas was 21st in the NBA in 3-point percentage, as they shot 35.2 percent from three. Their struggles from distance combined with nonstop injuries and other factors ultimately led to the Mavs missing the playoffs for the second time in three seasons, and Marshall seems locked in on doing his part to get his shooting trending back in the right direction.

While Marshall showed some flashes as a shooter, as he shot 41.7 percent from three in December, his jumper was far too inconsistent for him to be consistently respected as a 3-point shooter. This isn't to say that Marshall didn't hit some big shots, but he has to become a more efficient shooter to reach his full potential in Dallas.

To begin the year, Jason Kidd could end up relying upon Marshall to run the offense often while Kyrie Irving is sidelined, and this will be his time to shine. Dallas is going to need all hands on deck in the backcourt to begin the season, and Marshall should have a great chance to show off his improved jump shot and improve with and without the ball in his hands.

Last season, Marshall showed the world that he is much more than a 3-and-D wing, as his guard skills were on display almost every single night. Marshall's passing and unstoppable floater are definitely what stood out, and now he is on a mission to improve as a shooter.

Marshall's 3-point percentage improving will only force the defense to respect him more from beyond the arc, allowing more spacing for everyone else inside. Him taking the next step as a shooter is truly the key to him becoming even more vital for Dallas, and fans from DFW could even get to see him display his shooting touch once again in the Swin City League later this summer as he is interested in playing again soon.