Naji Marshall can do a little bit of everything for the Dallas Mavericks

Throughout the offseason, the fanbase seemed somewhat divided on Marshall. One camp wanted to jettison all manner of veteran player in exchange for assets, while another camp wanted to move certain veterans while retaining others. On August 2, 2026 we learned that Marshall would in fact remain part of the future of the Mavericks. Marshall signed a three-year contract extension, which will kick in after this coming season and carry through the 2029-2030 season. The $52.2 million extension is a relative bargain for a player of his caliber and will likely only look better with time as the salary cap continues its endless growth.

The big question surrounding Marshall is precisely where he fits in with the Mavericks. Dallas is loaded with wings and forwards – Cooper Flagg , P.J. Washington , Zaccharie Rissacher, Caleb Martin , Morez Johnson and Santi Aldama (perhaps more of a center). On the surface, it appears playing time will be at a premium, but a closer look suggests there will be room to maneuver. Flagg will likely see time at one of the guard positions, Aldama and even Johnson at center, Martin likely relegated to spot minutes… and with Marshall having just signed an extension, it's all but certain he will factor in as a key rotation piece.

The best case scenario for Marshall and the team is that he will be the third best player. If he is, that will mean that 1) Flagg maintains his spot atop the pecking order; 2) Kyrie Irving has not only returned to form but is consistently available as the Batman to Flagg's Superman; 3) new faces like Sergio De Larrea, Johnson and others won't be forced to do too much.