FA: Naji Marshall To DAL | 3yrs/27mil

[KillerLeft]

If we find out that Marshall is going to start and be backed up by Quentin Grimes, I will be all about this.

But, we’re about to be trying to convince ourselves that Tobias Harris and PJ Washington can play at the same time.

Spoiler alert: NOPE!

[SleepingHero]

I know Marshall. I don’t have to watch his highlights. I already said it’s a good player on a good deal.

Jones wasn’t just a great defender, he was the right TYPE of great defender.

I'm not disagreeing with you about the DJJ aspect, but I think Marshall may be closer to that "type" of defender than we all may initially think. 

Again, I have not watched enough of Marshall to give any definitive answer. That is on my docket this week.

[KillerLeft]

I'm not disagreeing with you about the DJJ aspect, but I think Marshall may be closer to that "type" of defender than we all may initially think. 

Again, I have not watched enough of Marshall to give any definitive answer. That is on my docket this week.

He will be a better point of attack defender than Klay Thompson or Tobias Harris, that is for damn sure.

He is more of a two-way player than DJJ, that’s also a certainty.

[soog]

We'll see.. Chasing Klay threw a monkey wrench in this thing.

Yeah, I’ve been struggling to see how Nico went from DJJ is priority 1a and 1b, to Klay. Did he just not think he was going to be available?

[HoosierDaddyKid]

He's literally a younger James Johnson if you've ever watched a Pelicans game.  He tries to start a fight almost every game.  He's an enforcer.  Above average athlete. 

He shot well from 3 last year on 2 attempts per game.  For our sake, I hope he can build on that.  Otherwise, he has been one of the worst offensive players in the league.

I bet the word "toughness" is used a lot in his introductory press conference.

I remember that scrap he had with Jimmy Butler last year. They were getting after it.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

I am certainly wrong on players all the time.

But how you gonna watch a 10 second clip on Twitter and proclaim someone something that you had no idea he was 5 minutes ago?

[Chicagojk]

I have some doubt Thompson is going to be able to be our 3rd/4th starter.


I did notice that three good teams and pretty smart run teams are also going after Thompson. Does that mean he is the right player for us? No, but something to consider.

[Chicagojk]

Cato made a good point that Marshall is a good defense but probably won’t guard guards as well as jones. Jones was close to elite the second half of the year.

Small note though, any perimeter defender will benefit playing with really good shot blockers. Jonas isn’t the same as our guys.

[SleepingHero]

Pranav Sriraman (@PranavSriraman)
This guy is the best Shai defender in the world man.



This guy is an OKC fanboy.

[SleepingHero]

John Hollinger (@johnhollinger)
I had a $12 million BORD$ valuation on Naji Marshall. Tremendous value for Dallas at a position that doesn't typically yield value free agents.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5582527...-thompson/

[ThisIStheYear]

Marshall was terrible until last year when he was actually quite good, arguably as good as or better than DJJ. For the price, I like the signing. I hope last season represented development rather than a hot streak. It’s a reasonably good gamble and a nice recovery by Nico to an unexpected challenge. I do wish the Mavs had a better plan A than Klay though, but that’s just a matter of basketball judgement (l hate relying on old players). Omax may need to step up.

[myconsumerclub]

I could like this move a lot if he gets a lot of playing time and he improves his 3 pointer. Grimes may be the defender we use on smaller guards and I can see that being where he fits in at unless he really starts to hit threes a lot more. Both guys can defend and hit the 3 nice enough to hope they improve with Luka and Kyrie feeding them.

An addition of Klay is something I can take or leave. Either way we need to position the team to have room for players who get dumped around the TDL though it would be nice to have talent in Dallas developing in the preseason and camp.

Without Klay we still have the option to play PJ some at SF. There may be a way to move Lively over to PF duty with Gafford at the 5 and so that may be what we would do. Klay needs to regain his shooting and defensive intensity. He is just a big name without the same play we are used to. These kinds of players can end up regaining their swagger and becoming a special find or they can suck and continue to suck over time. I hate it when that happens.

Klay may be a decent enough shooter once he gets here and with his getting open looks as people try to double Luka so that is one thing that makes me want him. He has to perform and score for that to happen.

I think we need help at PF some because it seems to me we cannot count on Kleber staying healthy these adays.

I hope that the 7'5" signing for Summer League can find a way to get a 2 way and earn his way to playing on the big club. He looks like a Mutumbo wannabe and that would be useful when playing certain teams. Certainly if Lively does start to hit threes and he can play PF minutes some that definitely helps to rest PJ some and if such a kid could be a kill minutes on defense doing the dirty work on rebounds then he would be a welcome addition to help facilitate that situation. Count me in on letting him take Powells roster spot ASAP.

Luka Exum Grimes
Kyrie Hardy
Lively Gafford Powell
PJ Kleber Omax Morris
(KLAY?) Naji Grimes Lawson

Looks like we are short on short guys too. Hoping Grimes and Naji have some PG skills as well. Naji looks like he can handle the ball well enough.

[KillerLeft]

I could like this move a lot if he gets a lot of playing time and he improves his 3 pointer. 

I forgot, so sorry - are the guy who doubles as a Pelicans fan, or is that SuperpuckMD?

[Mavs2021]

Yeah, I’ve been struggling to see how Nico went from DJJ is priority 1a and 1b, to Klay. Did he just not think he was going to be available?

[Chicagojk]

https://x.com/iztok_franko/status/180772...19894?s=61&t=-aAylloVlVRI2-DRvoajoA

[SleepingHero]

[ThisIStheYear]

The Pelicans dramatically cut Naji’s role last season (22 fewer starts, 20% fewer minutes per game, 11 fewer appearances) and his performance improved. We have no idea how he’ll do with a substantial role (well maybe we do and it isn’t great), though apparently he can succeed in a limited role if he’s put in the right situations. It’s a clear downgrade on paper and fit. He’ll probably be fine guarding traditional small forwards, but I’m not sure about POA or traditional power forwards, both of whom DJJ could match up against just fine. In fact, DJJ was a very fine POA defender. The Mavs have gotten worse. They need to find an athletic stud who can effectively guard 4 positions now.

[DanSchwartzgan]

https://x.com/iztok_franko/status/180772...19894?s=61&t=-aAylloVlVRI2-DRvoajoA

This is pretty much the same conclusion I came to...yesterday morning.  I spent a little time looking at data and video when Stein mentioned the possibility.  I said I was fine with it at the time.  So, being positive about this isn't some sunshine pumping perma-positive stance after the fact.  DJJ is good.  I thought so when he signed.  Marshall is good.  We are just fine either way.   Actually, neutral is probably a better word than positive.  But, in a sea of negativity, neutral feels positive.

[DanSchwartzgan]

The section of passing highlights is pretty impressive.  Also, leading the break on occasion.  He TO% is higher than DJJ's, but you also get more creation.  

According to 82games.com, when Naji was on the court, NO was 2.5 PP48 better than when he was off.  Defensively, when Naji was on the court NO was 4.5 PP48 better than when he was off.  Those numbers for DJJ?  The O was 2.6 PP48 worse when he was on.  The D was 2.3 PP48 better.  So, the net is +7.0 for Naji and -0.4 for DJJ.

[Smitty]

Whether Naji comes by exception or S&T, we are hardcapped at $178.1mm.  New number for incoming salary with Green outgoing is about $17.5mm.  New number with Maxi as the outgoing is about $16mm.  If you send out both to bring back a bigger dollar player, you have about $26.5mm under the apron with 14 players and a replacement minimum in the 2 for 1.

Great info. My new preference is Maxi out and Klay at 3/$50m.

Could the Mavs also just look to trade Green for a FRP to someone's MLE now that they're treated like TPE's?

Would you be mad if the offseason was:

THJ + SRPs  ---> Grimes
DJJ ---> Klay 
Maxi ---> Naji
Green ---> FRP

Luka | Exum | (FA)
Kyrie | Hardy | (FA)
Klay | Grimes | (FA)
PJW | Naji | Omax
Lively | Gafford | Powell