Mavericks' Naji Marshall extension hides a familiar trade wrinkle

Earlier this week, the Dallas Mavericks signed Naji Marshall to a three-year contract extension worth $52.2 million. This move showcased the team's confidence in Marshall as he enters the final year of a three-year deal he initially signed with the Mavericks in the summer of 2024, but he may not be as secure in Dallas as expected.

Marshall's new deal mirrors one from last summer

This three-year extension pays Marshall $18.2 million in the first year, and that was the highest amount Dallas could pay him without activating a six-month trade restriction. Most Mavericks fans wouldn't have expected Marshall to be trade-eligible after seeing the figure he signed for, but Dallas walked the line as closely as possible to give him what he's worth, while also keeping their options open in the first year of a Dusty May era.

The Mavericks' decision to give Marshall this deal is quite similar to what happened with Daniel Gafford last summer. Dallas gave the former Arkansas Razorback a three-year extension worth $54.4 million, and this was the most they could pay him without activating a trade restriction.

As Mavs fans know, the Mavericks have been shopping Gafford for multiple years now, and this could end up being the case with Marshall. Masai Ujiri covets versatile wings, which is a skill set that Marshall possesses, but his future with the team may not be guaranteed after seeing that he remains trade-eligible after signing this deal.

Marshall faces a crowded wing rotation and has something to prove

Dallas has a surplus of forwards, and eventually, they may have to pick who will remain a key piece in their core alongside Cooper Flagg. This offseason alone, they traded for Zaccharie Risacher and Tarik Biberovic and drafted Morez Johnson Jr. and Tobi Lawal.

May's rotation is going to be tight when it comes to who plays on the wing, and if Marshall carries over his success from last season into this season, he's going to be fine. His playmaking and ability to play point forward give the Mavs a unique option to play him at point guard, shooting guard, and small forward, and Ujiri typically favors players who can play multiple positions.

But if Marshall struggles, he could be someone who gets traded before the trade deadline in February. He turns 29 next season and has struggled with shooting since arriving in Dallas, and the Mavericks could end up cashing in on him — especially if they get good value.

Dallas has made it clear that they're building for the future rather than pushing for a title as soon as possible, and Marshall is the definition of a win-now player. Playoff teams were targeting him before last season's trade deadline, and this interest will likely continue into next season. Any contender would love to have a player like Marshall, and with him being in the middle of his prime, Dallas could elect to move on if a rival team is willing to pay the premium.

Marshall seems like he will be on the team heading into next season, but as Mavs fans learned from the Gafford deal last summer, nothing is certain.

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