After trading Quentin Grimes, the Mavericks turned to free agency and inked Naji Marshall to a three-year, $27 million contract. With an annual salary of $9 million, Marshall will bring effective three-point shooting and notable perimeter defense to the team.
Marshall is a strong player and the Mavericks made a solid move by signing him to a favorable contract. However, this decision meant that they had to let go of Derrick Jones Jr., who played a crucial role in the Mavericks’ playoff success last year. Jones Jr. was a standout perimeter defender, frequently tasked with guarding the opposing team’s best player.
Although Marshall is also a competent perimeter defender, his skills don’t quite match those of Jones Jr. Losing Jones Jr. is a significant setback for Dallas, and their defense is likely to suffer as a result.
That said, Marshall is still a valuable addition for the Mavericks, particularly for improving their three-point shooting. While the deal itself is beneficial, the loss of Jones Jr. slightly diminishes the overall positive impact of the signing for many fans.
After spending over $420 million following the acquisitions of Quentin Grimes and Naji Marshall, the Mavericks took one final step during the free agency period. They reached an agreement to sign Klay Thompson to a three-year, $50 million contract through a sign-and-trade deal. This agreement, which involved the Mavericks sending Josh Green to another team, marked the largest trade deal in NBA history based on the number of teams participating.
Thompson had a disappointing season last year, which highlighted a significant loss of confidence. At times during the season, he was benched due to his subpar performance, and he concluded the season on a low note, failing to score in his last Play-In game with a dismal 0/10 shooting performance from the field and 0/6 from beyond the arc.
Despite the lackluster season, Thompson remained among the NBA’s top three-point shooters, finishing fourth in the league with a shooting percentage of 38.7% from three-point range. If he can maintain his shooting efficiency and volume, he could significantly boost the Mavericks’ offensive capabilities. With elite offensive talents like Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving already on the roster, Thompson’s addition could make it more challenging for opponents to effectively double-team the star guards.
The primary concern for the Mavericks now is the impact of this acquisition on their defense. Thompson was once known for his defensive prowess, but recent years of significant injuries have led to a considerable decline in his defensive abilities. Replacing Jones Jr. with Thompson might weaken the Mavericks’ defense, potentially making them one of the least effective defensive teams in the league. Nevertheless, Thompson represents a notable upgrade over Jones Jr., and monitoring the defensive consequences of this move will be important going forward.
