Trade & Free Agency 2026/2027

[cow]

I'm with you on this question. It feels like Naji is simply being labeled by haters as holding no ongoing oncourt value to the Mavs. I don't assume that's true at all. 

If the Mavs have made the determination that Naji is just a temp and not a keeper, then sure, there's no reason to re-sign him next summer, and you look at the choices (do we want to bank the payroll savings for use elsewhere, when he walks, or sell it to another team by taking a player?). But is this how they see him?

The issue not being addressed is Naji's place in the lineup and its importance to the team. Just because there will be younger players on the roster doesn't mean they will be better. It would obviously make him more desirable if he could develop a reliable 3-point shot, but he does contribute in a lot of ways that can be hard to find. 30 mg, 15p 5 r per game, on good shooting efficiency despite his meh 3% (almost 60% TS %), starts about half the games, that's fairly solid production (and GREAT value at his contract).

What we don't know - and which will be a major factor, I believe - is the oncourt value of the various newcomers the Mavs are adding. Some might be great finds and definite keepers, but some may not. Where will Naji fit in that comparison? We don't know yet.

To me the biggest question might be his price tag. Something in the vicinity of the numbers you offer (3y/33-35 total) seems like good value for what he offers, if the Mavs feel he's a fit for what they are building.

I think a lot of the Naji hate comes down to two factors:  his three point shooting as you mentioned and the analytics of him and Flagg sharing the court being a net negative.  I'm not a big analytics guy and I'd throw out a lot of last season because it was a lost season when they were trying to lose and ideally the biggest chunk of Naji's playing time will come with Cooper getting rest.  And because I watched so many of our dreadful games, Cooper and Naji have good chemistry. Naji knows how to defer and when to assert himself. Cooper aside, Naji is a big reason why we hung around in so many games last year.  Dude can get quality shots for himself.  

And I'm going to beat this drum until everyone is deaf.  He wants to be here.  Don't undervalue that.