Naji Marshall isn’t trying to sneak up on anybody, but he does sound ready to make himself part of the Mavericks’ bigger picture in a very specific way.
At media day, Marshall put the focus on the part of his game he believes can change everything.
“Nothing but net threes. That’s it, gonna make me unstoppable,” Marshall told reporters at media day.
“I truly believe that. I worked very hard on that.
So, I’m not gonna surprise me, but I might surprise some of you guys.”
Dallas made a major commitment to him this summer, signing Marshall to a three-year, $51.8 million contract extension. With Kyrie Irving and Cooper Flagg drawing the bulk of the attention heading into the season, Marshall is betting he can become the kind of perimeter threat that forces defenses to account for him in a different way. He has hit less than 30 percent of his career 3s, but he clearly likes where his game is headed.
Across the league, the Nets may be looking at a familiar name for a very different role.
D’Angelo Russell, who has already spent time in Brooklyn and was just waived by the Grizzlies, has been floated as a possible fit for the Nets. Sameer Kumar of Nets on SI sees him as a veteran addition for a young backcourt, noting that Brooklyn’s priority is getting Mikel Brown Jr. and Egor Demin as many reps as possible, with Nolan Traore expected to earn significant minutes off the bench.
“However, Russell could bring some much-needed veteran leadership at point guard and help Brown and Demin learn the ropes of being a floor general at the next level, especially in a big market like New York.”
It’s an argument that makes sense on paper. Russell has been around the block, played in a range of situations and seen just about everything an NBA guard can see. For a team trying to grow its young backcourt, that kind of presence has real value.
In Utah, the early read on Darryn Peterson is already a positive one, even before he plays a game for the Jazz.
Head of basketball operations Austin Ainge had strong praise for the young guard, telling reporters, via Jared Koch of NBA on SI, “He’s a really mature young man,” Ainge told reporters, via Jared Koch of NBA on SI. “He’s a really hard worker.
He came in with a lot of these things well developed for his age. I mean, he came in with work ethic, and an intensity, and a focus that we didn’t have to teach him, which is really unique for young guys.”
Ainge added, “We’ve seen him work every day, and he’s picked things up relatively quickly. He’s going to have to go a lot more here when his camp starts. But the stuff that we’ve thrown at him, he’s picked it up as well, as any young player I’ve been around.”
Peterson started his high school career at Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy, not far from Cleveland, before moving on to Kansas. Injuries cut into his time there, and the Jazz are hoping his first season in Utah goes a lot differently.
In Other News...
Nets Camp Puts Big Pressure On Two First Round Rookies
Training camp is bringing immediate attention to Brooklyns two first-round additions, with Mikel Brown Jr. and Joshua Jefferson arriving as the newest pieces in a roster that is still taking shape under Jordi Fernandez. Brown, taken by the Nets in the 2026 NBA Draft, comes in as a raw guard with clear scoring upside, while Jefferson profiles as a developmental frontcourt option whose path may depend on how quickly he settles into the NBA game.
For Brooklyn, the appeal is obvious, but so is the pressure. Brown could find himself in the mix for the starting point guard job, while Jefferson is looking at a potential role as a backup big man, and neither player is being handed anything as camp opens. With minutes up for grabs and competition already in place, the Nets will learn early how ready their two first-rounders are to turn promise into something more immediate. [Read more 🡒]
Nets Camp Battle Could Decide Which Young Forwards Actually Matter
The forward rotation is one of the more interesting pieces of Brooklyns preseason picture, with Julius Randle and Michael Porter Jr. set to open as the starters and the real fight coming behind them. That leaves a crowded group of Josh Minott, Danny Wolf, Noah Clowney and Joshua Jefferson competing for the backup minutes, a setup that gives the Nets both options and questions as camp unfolds.
Minott arrives with a new two-year contract, while Clowney is entering the final year of his rookie deal, adding a little extra weight to a battle that is about more than just filling out the bench. Coach Jordi Fernndez will sort through which of these forwards best fits his approach, and for a team trying to define its identity, the answer could help determine which young players actually become part of the plan. [Read more 🡒]
Nets Are Betting On One Risk Before Their Next Big Move
Sean Marks continues to frame the Nets' direction around patience, flexibility and internal growth, with the front office keeping its options open as the roster takes shape. The general manager pointed to the development of young players such as Julius Randle, Michael Porter Jr., Egor Demin and Mikel Brown Jr., while also stressing the value of cost-effective contracts as Brooklyn tries to keep its books clean for whatever comes next.
The appeal of that approach is obvious for a team still trying to build toward its next major move, but it also asks the Nets to trust the process in the present. For now, there are no confirmed trades or signings attached to Marks' comments, only a clear picture of an organization betting that young talent and financial flexibility can set up the real opportunity when it arrives. [Read more 🡒]