The Luka Doncic trade is the gift that keeps on giving to the Los Angeles Lakers. In addition to landing a new franchise player, the Lakers appear to have an opportunity to complete another trade with a dwindling Dallas Mavericks side that could address the pressing need for a wing stopper.
If a recent report proves true, then Los Angeles will have an opportunity to make an offer for elite isolation defender Naji Marshall.
Los Angeles has jumped out to a 22-11 start to the season that has it sitting at third in the Western Conference. Unfortunately, it's also No. 24 in defensive rating and No. 29 in opponent three-point field goal percentage. Thankfully, Dallas' dreadful 2025-26 campaign could provide the Lakers with a resolution.
According to Marc Stein of The Stein Line, the 13-23 Mavericks are open to the possibility of trading every player on the roster but Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving.
"The Mavericks are believed to be willing to discuss trades for anyone on the roster not named Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving, but that hardly guarantees that a Davis deal will materialize before the Feb. 5 trade buzzer."
As a result, the Lakers could realistically acquire the wing stopper they need in Marshall, a former Doncic teammate and criminally underrated two-way player.
Lakers should reunite Luka Doncic with Mavericks wing Naji Marshall
Marshall isn't the three-point shooter that the Lakers need along the wings, but that's a relatively limited view of what he offers. It's also worth noting that he's inefficient but not necessarily beyond repair at 34.0 percent on corner threes and 30.3 percent on catch and shoot treys.
The unavoidable truth of what Marshall brings to the table is that he can create for himself and others while defending at a legitimately elite level in isolation.
Marshall currently ranks in the 95th percentile in perimeter isolation defense, per Basketball Index. He also ranks in the 95th percentile in matchup difficulty as a defender, the 95th percentile in positional versatility as a defender, and the 96th percentile in post defense.
A 6'6" and 220-pound wing with a 7'0.75" wingspan, Marshall utilizes his size, length, and strength to disrupt opponents' efforts against interior and perimeter players alike.
Offensively, Marshall is quietly one of the best finishers in the NBA at 74.4 percent within five feet of the rim. His limitations as a shooter could prove problematic, but he's effectively a more offensively capable version of current Lakers reserve Jarred Vanderbilt.
With two years and less than $18.5 million remaining on his contract, Marshall is also playing on an incredibly team-friendly deal.
It'd admittedly be ideal for the Lakers to find a truly elite 3-and-D wing who can space the floor and defend at similarly high levels. The availability of said individuals is unclear, however, and those that may hit the market are likely to command a significantly higher return than Marshall.
With the opportunity to buy low on a two-way player on a team-friendly contract, the Lakers shouldn't hesitate to act within reason to reunite Doncic and Marshall in Los Angeles.