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Three Teams That Should Trade For Naji Marshall If Dallas Mavericks Sell High

James PierceyFebruary 4, 2026February 4, 2026

NBA: Naji Marshall drives past Stephen Curry with the ball at American Airlines Center during a game against the Golden State Warriors

Photo by Vernon Bryant/Dallas Mavericks

Besides “NBA championship,” there are two words that will entice an NBA player more than any others: Career year. Every player in the NBA is chasing one. There are financial implications, and there’s also pride. Just ask Dallas Mavericks forward Naji Marshall.

He’s in the middle of the best season of his career.

Marshall is averaging 14.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.9 assists while shooting 52.9% from the floor in 49 games. He’s playing with confidence, physicality, and freedom — the kind of year that reshapes how the league views you.

The Mavericks may move him anyway. At 19–31, Dallas sits 12th in the Western Conference, well outside the contender tier. With Cooper Flagg firmly established as the franchise’s long-term cornerstone, the organization should be prioritizing flexibility and future value. That makes selling high on a veteran like Marshall a logical move.

Here are three teams that should be paying attention.

Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cleveland Cavaliers are 30–21, fifth in the Eastern Conference, and squarely in the playoff mix. They’ve built a strong foundation around Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen — but one familiar issue remains.

They still need another wing-sized creator who can put the ball on the floor.

Cleveland already addressed part of its roster balance by trading De’Andre Hunter in a three-team deal that brought back Dennis Schröder and Keon Ellis. Schröder provides another pick-and-roll organizer, but he’s a traditional guard. Ellis brings defense and energy, but he’s not a proven on-ball shot creator against set defenses.

With Hunter gone, the Cavaliers effectively traded size at the forward spot for more guard play. That makes the need for a bigger wing who can attack closeouts and make plays even more pressing.

Marshall fits that mold. His three-point shooting won’t stretch the floor, but with Mobley and Allen anchoring the interior and Mitchell and Garland drawing defensive attention, Cleveland could benefit from a physical wing who can pressure the rim, punish mismatches, and keep the offense functional when the guards are contained.

For a team with postseason ambitions, that profile matters.

New York Knicks

The New York Knicks are 32–18, second in the Eastern Conference, and firmly in contender territory. That standing affords them a luxury few teams have.

They can absorb a below-average shooter.

That luxury comes with Karl-Anthony Towns. New York leans into five-out spacing with Towns at the center of everything, opening driving lanes and allowing the Knicks to prioritize versatility and toughness elsewhere.

Marshall checks both boxes. He’s long been a rugged, multi-position defender, but in 2025-26 he’s also shown real growth as a scorer. His ability to attack closeouts, post smaller guards, and create something late in the clock would give New York another on-ball option — particularly valuable in playoff settings when possessions slow down.

The question isn’t fit. It’s cost.

The Knicks are light on future-focused assets, and if Marshall’s market escalates, they could find themselves outbid by teams with more draft flexibility.

Los Angeles Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers are 30–19, fifth in the Western Conference, and operating firmly in win-now mode with Luka Dončić at the center of their plans.

At this point, it feels like everyone wants a piece of the Lakers’ future draft capital. Whether Los Angeles is willing to part with another first-round pick is the real question.

If Dončić has a say, they might for Marshall.

The two shared a locker room in Dallas, and Marshall is exactly the type of physical, hardworking forward who complements Dončić’s game. He can handle tough wing assignments, crash the glass, cut decisively, and attack gaps without demanding offensive control — allowing Dončić to focus on orchestrating the offense.

The Lakers shouldn’t give up an unprotected first for Marshall. But a lightly protected pick, potentially attached to an outgoing contract, becomes defensible if they believe Marshall can close playoff games alongside Dončić.

For a franchise intent on maximizing Luka’s prime, targeting a former teammate who’s thriving in the middle of a career year makes a lot of sense.

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