The Los Angeles Lakers will be searching for effective role players to re-shape their reserve unit prior to the 2025-26 season.
LeBron James and Luka Dončić were pummeled by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs, as the team only managed to come away with a single postseason victory on the backs of their superstar duo.
Finding more reliable 3-and-D options could be the Lakers’ main priority this offseason outside of revamping their center position, and it’s plausible that the franchise’s general manager Rob Pelinka could reach out to the Dallas Mavericks in an effort to pull off an important trade for Dallas’ improving wing Naji Marshall.
The likelihood of Marshall landing with the Lakers admittedly comes down to whether or not the Mavericks’ general manager Nico Harrison views his team as a true title contender.
If Harrison makes it a mission to acquire young prospects and draft capital, he could look to the Lakers, as they can offer him a package consisting of the No. 17 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft Dalton Knecht, Shake Milton and substantial first-round draft capital.
In 69 appearances for the Mavericks this season after signing a 3-year, $27 million deal with the team last summer, the former New Orleans Pelicans forward contributed 13.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists on a 55.1% effective field goal percentage
Throughout 16 contests in the month of March, Marshall hit another level in terms of individual offensive output. The 6-foot-7 two-way wing averaged a sensational 19.8 points and 7.3 rebounds while knocking down 53.7% of his attempts from the field.
As a prospective member of the Lakers, Marshall could prove to be a monumental piece of their rotation under head coach JJ Redick.
By reuniting with Dončić and sharing the floor with James, he would be able to serve as a solid defensive option on the perimeter as the Lakers attempt to hide Dončić on that end of the floor.
On the offensive end, he’s a crafty rim-runner with a deadly right-hand floater, which has become his signature shot.
If he can improve to become a consistent catch-and-shoot threat from distance, there’s no telling how much he could impact the Lakers on both ends in 2025-26 and beyond.
