One move that was certain for the Dallas Mavericks to make on the first day of free agency proved considerably less likely.
Resigning Going into the offseason, Derrick Jones Jr. was the Mavs’ main priority. One move that Jones Jr. made at the beginning of free agency completely changed the game. For the Mavs, things became more tricky when Jones Jr. chose to switch agencies.
Since re-signing Jones Jr. wouldn’t be as simple as anticipated, the Mavericks made an unconventional decision that is receiving high appreciation from the NBA community.
Naji Marshall’s signing with the Mavericks is the best “under-the-radar” move.
Brian Martin of NBA.com called the Mavs’ decision to sign Naji Marshall to a three-year contract one of the “best under-the-radar moves” of the offseason.
Martin delved into how Marshall and Jones Jr. are similar players, discussing how Marshall shot a career-high 38.7 percent from downtown last season in addition to being a superb defender.
Marshall, a Dallas acquisition, is a player whose hype isn’t nearly high enough. The Mavs are expecting great things from him in the upcoming campaign. Marshall shot 46.3 percent from the floor while averaging 7.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 0.7 steals per game for the New Orleans Pelicans in the previous campaign.
Marshall is a powerful lockdown defender who never backs down, making him an ideal match for Dallas. Marshall is a big man who can lock down bigger forwards thanks to his 6-foot-7 height, 7-foot-1 wingspan, and 220 pounds. However, he also has the quick feet to keep up with bigger guards.
Marshall is more of an attacking defender than most people realize, and because of their superior defensive abilities, he and Quentin Grimes will probably be asked to frequently guard the star player on the opposing team.
Even while not many in the media are touting Marshall’s signing by the Mavs as a major move, he will soon get the chance to disprove everyone. For Mavs supporters, Marshall’s 3-and-D repertoire and fearless attitude will be a dream come true. He is genuinely one of the league’s most underappreciated players.
Playing close to Luka Doncic in the downtown area would undoubtedly bring Marshall a lot of attention, and if all goes according to plan, he might have found a place to call home in Dallas.
Keep checking back for all the latest during the offseason on Naji Marshall and the Dallas Mavericks.
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