The Mavericks' Naji Marshall has established himself as a top trade target with his recent play. He's been excellent on both ends, combining his typical solid defense with an offensive outburst. That kind of two-way force is exactly what the Pistons need to add at the trade deadline.
Naji Marshall is a sneakily great trade candidate
In his last 10 games, Marshall is averaging 20 points per game in the midst of some injuries for Dallas. He's stepped up to fill a void left by sidelined star players, and is doing so by creating his own buckets. Despite not shooting very well from outside, Marshall's overall skills make him a threat that can actually help the Pistons' offensive woes.
The glaring weak spot in this span, and his season overall, has been his 3-point shooting. Marshall is shooting just 31% from deep this season - a disappointing mark that's hurt his overall impact. Ideally, the Pistons would like to acquire another wing who can be a potent shooting threat without harming their defensive identity.
But Marshall makes up for his shooting with a strong handle and tough shot-making ability inside the arc. He's a master of operating in tight spaces and getting to his shot, whether it's in the midrange or all the way at the rim. In fact, Marshall's scoring arsenal is reminiscent of the Pistons' own Cade Cunningham.
Like Cade, Marshall uses his size and skill to be a mismatch for most defenders. Many of the perimeter players that can keep up with him are too small to bother his shots. At the same time, he can blow by larger forwards with ease. Adding him to a team that already features Cade would be a nightmare for opposing defenses come playoff time.
In the past two seasons, Marshall has been at his best on the Mavericks when the team's star players are out with injury. If the Pistons were to acquire him, they would want him to work in tandem with Cade and their other starters like Jalen Duren. Marshall hasn't shown the same strengths in a complimentary role, but the Pistons have been able to maximize their non-shooters all season long.
Naji Marshall fits in on the Pistons in many ways. He's a tough-nosed defender who can lock down opposing guards and force turnovers. He also prefers to attack the paint than launch ill-advised threes; this has been a core tenet of the Pistons' offensive philosophy. Adding Marshall wouldn't give the Pistons a fix for their lack of shooting but it would add another offensive weapon without disrupting their defense. He's more than capable of filling a role similar to Ron Holland II with more refined skills.