Mavericks make their stance on Naji Marshall crystal clear if rumors are true

It's trade season in the NBA, and there's plenty of rumors flying about what teams will or won't do. If the latest report is to be believed, it would appear that the Dallas Mavericks have made their stance on Naji Marshall very clear. According to NBA Insider Marc Stein, the Mavericks have identified Marshall as someone they want to keep around for the foreseeable future.

In his latest Substack post, Stein writes: "Naji Marshall and Max Christie have emerged as prized members of Dallas' post Luka Dončić-core alongside Rookie of the Year favorite Cooper Flagg. I'm told that the Mavericks, as a result, have established high trade thresholds for both. (Flagg, obviously, is an untouchable.) When it comes to Marshall — who is in Year 2 of a rather attractive three-year, $27 million pact — Dallas is said to be unwilling to listen to any trade approaches that don't feature a future first-round pick."

All things considered, this is a smart position for the organization to take. Marshall has been enjoying a strong season in Dallas, and he currently stands as this team's third-leading scorer. Being willing to part ways with him, especially given his favorable contract, would feel unnecessary and even irresponsible.

The Mavericks don't have interest in trading Naji Marshall

This is exactly how a franchise responsibly shifts their direction from one era to the next. After parting ways with a star player and acquiring another one, one of the first things that must be done is identifying who you believe would be best suited around that new cornerstone. If you believe in Marshall as an ideal supporting piece to Cooper Flagg, you unquestionably signal to other teams that he's not available at the price they're asking.

Arriving at this stance sends a clear internal message as well. Young teams that are trying to establish a new identity can't afford to constantly churn through productive players simply because interest exists elsewhere. At a certain point, there's value in just staying the course.

Marshall has carved out a defined role and produced at a level that aligns with where Dallas wants to go next. That's what you want out of your supporting players as you're figuring out what your new era is going to look like.

If the Mavericks are serious about accelerating Flagg’s development and remaining competitive during this transition, holding firm on Marshall is the right move. Keep him and Christie around, and you've got a solid base with which to build something sustainable without rushing the process.