Naji Marshall enters this season with a clear number in mind, and it is a lofty one.
After a year in which he hit just 29.1% of his 3s, Marshall spent the offseason working on his jumper and said at media day Friday that he wants to get all the way to "45% or better," adding, "High expectations. Set the bar high."
That kind of jump would be massive. It would have paced the NBA among high-volume shooters last season, and it is not the sort of leap players usually make from one summer to the next.
Still, the target tells you plenty about the work Marshall put in. He said he focused on "nothing but net" 3-pointers, emphasizing clean makes as he rebuilt the shot.
The Mavericks do not need him to become a 45% shooter to feel the impact. Marshall was already productive in every other part of the game, which is why his one shaky area stood out so clearly. Defenses were willing to give him space on the perimeter last season because of that 29.1% mark, and that naturally squeezed what Dallas could do offensively.
Even a return to the 38.7% he posted in his final season with New Orleans would change the picture. That was a strong number by any standard, and it would make him far more dangerous without asking for anything near the kind of perfection he is chasing now.
The rest of Marshall’s profile is already well rounded. Last season he set career highs with 15.2 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists while shooting 51% from the field, production that led to a three-year, $52.2 million extension in August. He scores inside, rebounds, defends multiple positions and gives Dallas the connective playmaking that does not always show up in the box score.
That is what makes the jumper such a big swing piece. If it comes around, Marshall goes from useful to a headache for opposing game plans.
Asked what Dallas needs to sharpen as a group, Marshall pointed to ball movement, defensive communication and better use of the length the Mavericks brought in this offseason. That last piece is no small thing, because turning size into a real defensive edge starts with the communication he mentioned.
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Dusty May has been careful not to force the issue, but he has made clear what Aldama could add once hes fully available: a versatile center who can help stretch defenses and open up lineup options. That kind of fit matters for a team also sorting out roles around Daniel Gafford, rookie Morez Johnson Jr. and the rest of camp, which is why Aldamas status has quickly become one of the more important things to watch as camp moves along. [Read more 🡒]
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Sergio De Larrea, taken No. 25, has taken a different path so far. The guard has been leaning on veteran Santi Aldama and assistant coach Willie Green as he learns how NBA defenses are treating him and works to sharpen the finer points of his game, all while adjusting to a tempo that fits with his EuroLeague background. The two rookies are facing very different early tests, but both are part of the same larger question for Dallas: how quickly can this class start looking ready? [Read more 🡒]