Pelicans Role Player Naji Marshall Is Heading to the Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks have signed Naji Marshall to a three-year, $27 million deal. The four-year pro has been with New Orleans since he stepped foot into the NBA. Last season, Marshall appeared in 66 games, starting one game and averaging 19 minutes of playing time. The undrafted forward averaged 7.1 points per game, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.9 assists while shooting a career-high 46.3 percent from the field, a career-high 38.7 percent from downtown, and 79.1 percent from the free throw line. He was an unrestricted free agent this summer.

Marshall was part of a Pelicans squad that grabbed the final seed in the Western Conference and won 49 games in the regular season before the one-seed Oklahoma City Thunder swept them in the first round. Marshall scored a season-best 19 points to go along with four rebounds and one assist in a 103-95 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. In the playoffs, Marshall averaged nine points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.3 assists while shooting 42.9 percent from the field, and 40 percent from downtown and was perfect from the free throw line. It was Marshall’s second playoff appearance in four seasons.

He spent his first four years in the league in New Orleans. Joining the Mavericks, Marshall brings energy and solid perimeter defense off the bench. He can also hit an open three-pointer and provide a bit of a scoring punch. He’s also not afraid to be an enforcer when things start to get chippy. Marshall gives the Mavericks another solid rotation player who can sparingly play more minutes when the matchup is favorable.