The Los Angeles Lakers missed a valuable opportunity to bolster their roster by not acquiring Naji Marshall from the Dallas Mavericks before the 2026 NBA trade deadline. Marshall, a versatile forward with strong two-way skills, has proven to be an effective contributor alongside Luka Doncic, and the Lakers now face growing concerns about their defensive and bench performances.
At 28 years old, Marshall has developed into a reliable defender capable of guarding multiple positions and an adaptable scorer who excels in creating offense, especially in midrange and driving situations. His steady production and team-friendly contract make his absence particularly notable for the Lakers as they aim to improve ahead of the postseason.
How Naji Marshall Could Have Strengthened the Lakers’ Bench and Defense
Currently, Marshall averages 15.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game, while shooting 53 percent overall, including 29.8 percent from three-point range. Although his three-point shooting is below ideal, his overall offensive versatility and defensive strengths would have compensated well for this shortfall.
Marshall is adept at locating scoring opportunities inside the arc, often using midrange jumpers and floaters that defenders struggle to contest. He drives to the basket frequently, shooting 58.1 percent on 7.6 drives per game. Among Lakers players, only stars Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves average more drives, highlighting Marshall’s capacity to produce offense independently when needed.
The Lakers’ bench currently ranks near the bottom of the league in scoring, which has contributed to their struggles in close games. Marshall’s ability to create shots and defend aggressively could have addressed this issue by providing a consistent secondary scorer and lockdown defender coming off the bench.
Relieving Pressure on Lakers’ Star Players with Marshall’s Skill Set
According to Basketball Index, Marshall ranks in the 92nd percentile for one-on-one shotmaking efficiency and 83rd percentile for midrange shot creation, indicators of skills that translate well under playoff pressure. His ability to generate offense on isolation plays could have afforded the Lakers an additional reliable offensive option beyond their primary stars.
Defensively, Marshall is recognized as one of the NBA’s best isolation defenders, a quality that the Lakers desperately need. While there are some concerns about his off-ball consistency, Lakers head coach JJ Redick has a track record of helping players improve their defensive awareness, which might have maximized Marshall’s impact in Los Angeles.
Currently, the Lakers do not have a true lockdown wing defender, a gap that Marshall’s arrival could have filled, allowing the team more defensive flexibility and better matchup options in critical moments of the game.
Marshall’s Defensive Versatility Would Have Addressed Multiple Lakers’ Weaknesses
Marshall stands out in the 95th percentile for perimeter isolation defense and matchup difficulty as an on-ball defender, according to Basketball Index. His defensive prowess is highlighted by his effectiveness against top NBA scorers such as Cade Cunningham (held to 5-of-13 shooting), Tyrese Maxey (4-of-12), and Pascal Siakam (3-of-9).
This defensive versatility makes him one of the few players capable of guarding stars with varying playing styles and physical attributes, a crucial asset for a Lakers team that has struggled to contain opposing offensive leaders. Adding a defender of Marshall’s caliber could have elevated Los Angeles’s competitiveness, particularly in postseason scenarios.
Despite his significant value and manageable $9 million salary, the Lakers decided against trading for Marshall, leaving him to continue his impact with Dallas and limiting Los Angeles’s defensive options going forward.
The Lakers now face an uphill battle as they rely on unproven players to fill the defensive voids and generate offense off the bench, putting added pressure on their star core as the postseason approaches. Whether the team will seek similar acquisition moves in the future remains to be seen, but missing out on a player like Naji Marshall underscores critical roster challenges that need urgent attention.
