Mavs 'Too Optimistic' About Naji Marshall Replacing Derrick Jones Jr.? Debunking Analyst's Take

Although the Dallas Mavericks aren't favored to win the NBA Finals or the Western Conference in the betting odds for the 2024-25 season, they're certainly in the mix after having a stellar offseason with several key additions.

Coming off a season that ended in defeat to the loaded Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals, Mavs GM Nico Harrison was aggressive in trying to fix Dallas' biggest weakness: offensive versatility outside of superstar guards Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. The Celtics exploited that weakness in the Finals, beating the Mavs in five games despite Dallas' defense holding Boston to 101.6 points per game.

The Mavs signed future Hall-of-Famer Klay Thompson, former New Orleans Pelicans forward Naji Marshall, former Los Angeles Lakers (and Mavericks) guard Spencer Dinwiddie, and traded for former Detroit Pistons and New York Knicks wing Quentin Grimes. With these moves, the Mavs significantly raised their offensive ceiling while also retaining the defensive flexibility that allowed them to win the West. However, one NBA analyst sees a flaw in Dallas' offseason.

Bleacher Report's Eric Pincus, who previously worked at ESPN, recently wrote about "cases against" the top-10 NBA title contenders, and he believes the Mavs will miss Derrick Jones Jr., who left Dallas to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers, more than they realize.

"Derrick Jones Jr. was a low-maintenance role player and key defender for the Mavericks in their surprise run to the Finals," Pincus wrote.

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"However, Dallas let him go in free agency and chose to add another shooter in Klay Thompson, who isn't the defender he was back in the championship years with the Golden State Warriors before multiple leg injuries. Banking on Naji Marshall to fill Jones' role may be too optimistic."

Marshall might not be as versatile on defense as Jones was when it comes to guarding opposing teams' point guards, but he's bigger and stronger than Jones is, more than capable of guarding wings and forwards.

Last season for the Mavs, Jones averaged 8.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.0 assists, and 0.7 steals in 23.5 minutes per game, shooting 48.3 percent from the floor overall and 34.3 percent from deep. For the Pelicans, Marshall averaged 7.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 0.7 steals in 19.0 minutes per game, shooting 46.3 percent from the floor and 38.7 percent from beyond the arc.

Jones, who possesses more superhuman athleticism, and Marshall, who is bigger and has a more reliable jump shot, are different players, for sure, but their production last season was extremely similar. Marshall's numbers came in nearly five fewer minutes per game while also not playing alongside Doncic and Irving, so we fully expect "The Knife" to fill in nicely for Jones and possibly take the Mavs higher than they flew last season.