Naji Marshall's 'best' skill is the Mavericks' scary new secret weapon

The first move of free agency for the Dallas Mavericks was signing Naji Marshall to a three-year deal.

This was a move that shocked some Mavs fans, as re-signing Derrick Jones Jr. was a top priority of the team, but their focus ultimately shifted to Marshall after Jones Jr. switching agents right before free agency created some complications. Marshall was long reported as the backup option if the team were to lose Jones Jr., and Marshall is already becoming a fan favorite before even stepping foot on the floor.

Marshall boldly showed fans and media his true colors at Media Day, as he described himself as someone who is going to "(be) a dawg on both sides of the floor." His game is based on his high energy, tenacious defense, and slowly improving 3-point shooting, but he revealed a different part of his game that he thinks he is elite at but doesn't get much credit.

Marshall's underrated passing will help the Mavericks significantly

Marshall described his passing as the "best thing (he) can do," on the floor, and this is exactly what the Mavs need from him. Having skilled forwards who can handle the ball in space and pass is a necessity in today's NBA, and that's exactly what the Mavs have with Marshall.

Dallas was looking for a forward who could handle the ball with decent size at the trade deadline last season, and they traded for P.J. Washington. Now they have two forwards with this archetype, and having both Marshall and Washington being able to handle the ball will allow them to push the ball in transition and playmake some. Marshall made some great passes during his time with the New Orleans Pelicans, with many of these dimes coming in transition. He isn't afraid to bring out flashy passes when in the open floor, and Mavs fans got to see this firsthand over the weekend.

Marshall put his playmaking on display on Sunday afternoon during Fan Jam at the American Airlines Center, and he was one of the many standouts from this scrimmage. He finished with 19 points, seven rebounds, and five assists, and his performance in front of all of the Mavs fans has them giddy for his potential impact this season.

He threw countless lobs to Dereck Lively II in this game, and his ability to handle the ball in space and play some point forward was intriguing. Marshall looked comfortable with the ball in his hands, and when he wasn't throwing flashy lobs to Lively II he was knifing his way to the rim for easy buckets. Irving recognized Marshall's strong play during the scrimmage and shared a short conversation with Jason Kidd about how he "plays like an East Coast kid."

Players from the East Coast are often known for their ball handling, toughness, and vision, and those are all things that describe Marshall's playstyle. He isn't going to be the type of player to put defenders on skates often, but his craftiness as a wing was on full display.

While we may not see Marshall handle the ball a ton considering that the Mavs have Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic on the roster, but this is a luxury they can utilize in certain situations. If Marshall pulls down a defensive rebound, he can push the ball himself rather than waiting around for Doncic, Irving, or one of the other guards to come get the ball. He seems confident in his guard skills, and his versatility will allow the Mavs to use him in diverse ways.

Marshall likes to "get guys involved," and his selflessness will make him an excellent role player in Dallas' system. While Marshall's success will likely highly depend on him knocking down open shots and playing good defense, his passing and playmaking are two things that could help take Dallas' offense to the next level.

He has a clear edge over what Jones Jr. brought in those areas, and his development and growth with the Mavs will be a relevant storyline over the next few years. Playing next to Doncic and Irving should allow him to reach his full potential and this is just the start for what Marshall can bring on the floor.