Lakers are quietly plotting another heartbreaking Mavericks trade

The Los Angeles Lakers traded for Luka Doncic on February 1 last season, and now they're eyeing another trade with the Dallas Mavericks that fans aren't going to like. According to Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times, Naji Marshall is one of the Lakers' trade targets with eight days to go until the February 5 trade deadline.

The Marshall angle has flown a bit under the radar, as Turner listed several other trade targets that the Lakers are targeting, but these trade rumbles could go from quiet to deafeningly loud depending on the stance Dallas takes.

Marshall has become the hottest name on the trade front on the Mavericks' roster, and the Lakers trying to acquire him should be a shock to no one. It has already been rumored that Los Angeles is looking for a two-way wing, and Marshall fits that description perfectly.

He has been a versatile defender for his entire career, and his offensive game has taken a massive leap this season in Dallas. Marshall is averaging 14.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game while shooting 54.5 percent from the field, and he may be exactly what the Lakers need if they hope to make a deep playoff run.

Lakers could fleece the Mavericks in a trade again

He can effectively play nearly any position, as shown by him playing all five positions over the last season and a half as a Maverick, and his versatility should be what has the Lakers heavily considering trading for him. His fit next to Cooper Flagg has also been excellent, just like it was with Doncic last season, and he'd definitely be a plug-and-play player in Los Angeles.

His energy and intensity are second to none, and these types of players are the ones that excel most when the lights are brightest. Just like they are in Tinseltown.

Marshall doesn't back down from anyone, and his constant effort and deep desire for winning have made him a fan favorite in Dallas. Mavs fans have clung to him especially hard this season, as he has been one of the only signs of consistency through an injury-riddled season to nearly everyone around him.

This is likely why he and Doncic got along so well as teammates last season, and the two still share a close bond despite being on separate teams.

"I love playing against Luka," Marshall said last week before taking on the Lakers. "That’s my guy. Miss him dearly."

Marshall hasn't been shy about his admiration for Doncic and his game over the last year since the trade went down, and if the Mavericks are set on trading him, it wouldn't be surprising if he targets a trade to the Lakers. They are positioned to win now much more than the Mavericks, and he'd likely welcome a trade to team up with Doncic once again if Dallas is ready to move on.

A trade out of Dallas isn't guaranteed by any means, as the Mavericks value him highly and view him as a piece of their core moving forward, but the potential value that they could receive in a trade for him may be too good to turn down. Marshall has turned into one of the best role players in the NBA, and with Dallas' need for future draft capital and young assets, they may have a hard time saying no.

Any trade involving Marshall being moved would sting for Mavericks fans, but the Lakers finding a way to pry the 6-foot-6 swingman away from Dallas would leave a gaping hole in their hearts. Mavs fans are still furious over the Luka Doncic trade, and seeing Naji Marshall, another player that fans love, be traded to Los Angeles would be a tough pill to swallow.

Many Mavericks fans think that helping the Lakers with another trade would be an unthinkable mistake, and if this trade propels them to the NBA Finals or another deep playoff run, fans wouldn't be able to forgive the front office. The Luka Doncic trade is still front and center at many fans' brains, and seeing Los Angeles pull off another lopsided trade with Dallas could be the nail in the coffin if they can get their hands on Marshall.

He and Doncic would likely pick up right where they left off last season, and if the rumors about the Lakers hunting Marshall turn into something more serious, Mavericks fans should prepare themselves for the heartbreak that could be on the way of seeing Marshall in purple and gold.