MAVS NEWS:

[Smitty]

Interesting, given Smitty's timing on extension talk...

Mike Curtis
https://x.com/MikeACurtis2/status/207213...50717?s=20

"Max Christie and Naji Marshall are changing their jersey numbers, per a #Mavs spokesperson:

Christie will switch from No. 00 to No. 0, previously worn by Dante Exum in 2025-26.

Marshall is changing his number from No. 13 to No. 3, previously worn by Anthony Davis in 2025-26."

Well, these two have not been in trade rumors like Gafford, PJ, and Klay have. We've talked a lot about them being extension eligible. Both are GOOD players. If you're not offering them extensions, don't you have to move them now or at the TDL? Value is much lower at the TDL, since they would then be UFA's in the summer. Kinda feel like the writing is on the wall. The Mavs will look to extend both now...?

Some notes from a few articles:

The maximum contract extension Max Christie is eligible for is a four-year deal worth $92.8 million.

"De’Andre Hunter makes about $24.0 million a year. Christie is already outperforming him this season. He’s shooting 42.3% from deep, while Hunter is at 30.5%. Hunter’s deal has been viewed as one of the tougher contracts in that tier.

"Other players in that range include Aaron Gordon, Dillon Brooks, Kyle Kuzma, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. It’s a mixed bag. Some of those deals age well. Others don’t. Some pay for past production. Others bet on future growth. "The Dallas Mavericks have to decide which category Max Christie falls into.''

Our view? As a shooter and scorer, Christie is right where he needs to be to get that payday.

And as a defender? Christie is 6-5 and does solid work guarding three positions.

He's a two-way player.

But ...

He's also a role player.

DallasHoopsJournal comes to the conclusion that the right number should be around $23 million per season, noting that "locking him up near that number would reflect what the league already pays for this type of player.''

We see no sense in Dallas avoiding paying market value for a building block on the rise. Max is worth the max that he's eligible for on his next contract.



"Naji Marshall is currently eligible for a maximum contract extension of roughly $93 million over four years. However, his true market worth as a two-way wing is projected to be slightly lower, with reports indicating his next deal could fall in the $45 million to $60 million range over three years."



So, maybe I was actually low on both guys when I posted these numbers:

If the Mavs do keep Max and Naji, both extension eligible… what do we think their market value is?
Max: 4/$72m ?
Naji: 4/$60m ?
More? Less?