Naji Marshall Is Having a Career Year - and Playoff Teams Should Be Calling
Every NBA player dreams of two things: winning a championship and having that elusive career year. The kind of season that changes how coaches game-plan for you, how front offices value you, and how the rest of the league talks about you. For Dallas Mavericks forward Naji Marshall, that season is happening right now.
Marshall is putting up 14.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game while shooting an efficient 52.9% from the field across 49 games. He’s playing with confidence and physicality, embracing a bigger role and delivering.
This isn’t just a hot stretch - it’s a level-up. And that makes him one of the more intriguing names to watch as the trade deadline approaches.
But here’s the twist: Dallas might move him.
At 19-31, the Mavericks are stuck in the 12th spot out West, far from the playoff picture. With Cooper Flagg now firmly established as the centerpiece of the franchise’s future, Dallas is shifting its focus toward flexibility and asset accumulation. That puts Marshall - a productive veteran in the middle of a breakout season - squarely in “sell-high” territory.
And there are a few playoff-bound teams that should absolutely be picking up the phone.
Cleveland Cavaliers: The Missing Wing
The Cavaliers are 30-21, sitting fifth in the Eastern Conference, and have built a strong foundation around Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen. But if you’ve watched Cleveland closely, one thing still stands out: they need a wing who can put the ball on the floor and make plays.
They made a move already - sending out De’Andre Hunter in a three-team deal that brought in Dennis Schröder and Keon Ellis. Schröder gives them another ball-handler, and Ellis adds energy and defense.
But neither solves the wing-creator problem. In fact, losing Hunter only made that need more urgent.
Enter Naji Marshall.
No, he’s not going to space the floor like a knockdown shooter, but that’s not what Cleveland needs. With Mobley and Allen protecting the paint and Mitchell and Garland drawing defensive attention, the Cavs could use someone who can attack closeouts, bully smaller defenders, and keep the offense moving when the guards are bottled up.
Marshall brings that kind of physicality and versatility. He’s the type of player who can help stabilize a second unit or even close games in the right matchups. For a team with real playoff aspirations, adding a wing who can handle the ball and defend multiple positions might be the missing piece.
New York Knicks: Built to Absorb the Fit
The Knicks are rolling at 32-18, second in the East, and they’ve done it by building a roster that’s tough, versatile, and unafraid to get physical. With Karl-Anthony Towns stretching the floor as a five-out centerpiece, New York has the spacing to take on a non-elite shooter - especially if that player brings value in other areas.
Marshall fits that mold perfectly.
He’s long been a gritty, switchable defender, but this season he’s also added more scoring punch. He can attack off the dribble, post up smaller guards, and create something when the shot clock is winding down - all valuable traits in the postseason, when half-court offense becomes a grind.
The Knicks don’t need Marshall to be a star. They need him to be a playoff-ready, matchup-proof contributor. And that’s exactly what he’s looked like this year.
The challenge? Cost.
New York doesn’t have a war chest of future picks, and if Marshall’s market heats up, they could get priced out. But if the bidding stays reasonable, he’s the kind of rotation piece who could make a difference in a deep playoff run.
Los Angeles Lakers: Familiarity and Fit
The Lakers are 30-19 and in full win-now mode. Luka Dončić is the engine, and everything revolves around maximizing his prime. That means surrounding him with players who can defend, rebound, and make smart plays without needing the ball in their hands too much.
Marshall checks every one of those boxes - and he already has chemistry with Dončić from their time in Dallas.
He’s the kind of forward who can take on tough defensive assignments, crash the boards, and make timely cuts. He doesn’t need touches to be effective, and that makes him an ideal complement to a high-usage star like Luka. The Lakers don’t need Marshall to carry them - just to do the dirty work and make winning plays.
The big question in L.A. is always the same: are they willing to part with another first-round pick?
They shouldn’t go all-in with an unprotected first. But a lightly protected pick, attached to a contract, could be worth it if they believe Marshall can close playoff games and help push them over the top.
For a team trying to capitalize on Luka’s prime years, adding a trusted, ascending role player who already knows the system makes a lot of sense.
Bottom Line
Naji Marshall is having the kind of season that turns heads around the league. He’s stronger, smarter, and more confident - and teams in the playoff mix are always looking for players like that. Whether it’s Cleveland’s need for a wing creator, New York’s appetite for toughness, or the Lakers’ pursuit of Luka-friendly pieces, Marshall’s name should be on multiple front office whiteboards right now.
He may not be a headline-making star, but in the right situation, he could be a difference-maker in May and June.