The Mavericks are likely fielding more calls about Naji Marshall more than any other player ahead of Thursday's NBA trade deadline.
Most of the conversation around the Dallas Mavericks and the NBA trade deadline revolves around star big man Anthony Davis and his awkward relationship with the franchise that has now moved on from "the vision" that brought him to Dallas a year ago.
Davis' current injury (not to mention health history) plays a factor in his trade value at this point in the season, but while the Mavs' intentions are somewhat a mystery regarding the 10-time All-Star, there are paths for the team to still be active at the Feb. 5 deadline.
The Mavericks are likely fielding calls about one player in particular who has arguably improved his value more than any player in the league recently: two-way wing Naji Marshall.
This topic is among the more controversial conversations in Mavs circles as we approach Thursday's deadline, but there are two schools of thought, which both travel back to the new centerpiece of the roster, prized rookie Cooper Flagg.
While Dallas has benefitted immensely from Marshall's evolution this season, he doesn't fit into a timeline to build around Flagg as well as younger role players such as Max Christie and P.J. Washington, meaning if the Mavs could receive draft capital in exchange for an entering-his-prime Marshall, that might be a smart move for the future-minded organization - especially with Dallas owning just their 2026 first-round pick for the rest of Flagg's rookie contract.
Dallas has said that they will be strict on Marshall's price in trade talks, with nothing short of a future first-round pick holding any weight. And that's for good reason.
Marshall has been one of the Mavericks' most steady presences amid a season that has battled frequent losing yet excited glimpses of a future that spotlights Flagg's All-NBA potential. The 28-year-old forward is averaging a career-best 14.6 points to go with 5.0 rebounds and 2.9 assists on reliable 53.8 percent shooting from the field.
He's regularly shown that he can handle a larger scoring load, a backseat that focuses on distributing, or a 3-and-D emphasis where he guards opposing team's best player.
As of late, he's had to bring a scoring punch for the shorthanded Mavs that remain without Davis, Dereck Lively II, Kyrie Irving and Dante Exum for likely the entire season. Marshall is scoring 20 points per game over Dallas' last nine games.
The case for trading Marshall focuses on maximizing his surging value and rebuilding a chest of draft assets. But there also remains a case for keeping him if its possible that Dallas can successfully trade other pieces like Daniel Gafford, Klay Thompson or Davis that have been nowhere near as reliable as Marshall has been this year.
You can never have enough Naji Marshall-type players, so going into next season with continuity next to Flagg and adding a healthy Irving and Lively shows some promise. The Mavs actual competitiveness would still hinge on other trade moves or this year's draft pick, as well.
With the deadline approaching, ESPN reporter Lisa Salters spoke during the Mavs' 111-107 loss at the Houston Rockets on Saturday about how Marshall has expressed unease.
He said he's aware of the unsettling nature of this week. He feels nervous knowing the likelihood of Dallas' activity before the deadline and how practically anyone on the roster could see their career impacted.
There is a case that the Mavs could go down either route - which makes players like Marshall especially wary of their spot in the master plans.
Time will tell how the Mavericks begin managing the future of the roster, and whether it involves parting ways with one of its best current players.