With the NBA Finals currently underway, news and discussion about the Suns have quieted down over the last few weeks. That said, it’s important to highlight how this team can improve to put itself in a better position heading into next year. So that brings us to another edition of the Suns trade verdict, one that I am excited to go over today.
That player, as you know, is Naji Marshall, a solid wing on the Dallas Mavericks who I feel could help the Suns take that next step. Marshall is someone many
teams could covet in the trade market, as the veteran is a solid role player on a cheap deal. With the Mavericks cleaning house in the front office and coaching staff, it seems anything could be on the table—especially a player who is not cemented into the future of the franchise, with a tradable contract.
Is this a move the Suns’ front office could make to add on the margins without shaking things up? Let’s find out!
How could the Suns get this done?
In most of these trade-verdict articles, there are plenty of moves the team can make, but for this one, there are only two that can be done one-for-one. That would be either trading Grayson Allen or Royce O’Neale for Naji Marshall.
And the Royce scenario:
In this scenario, the Mavericks cannot take back either Dillon Brooks or Jalen Green without involving other contracts.
Which trade makes the most sense?
It looks like either could be done personally. The Mavericks struggled from the three-point line and could use more alongside Cooper Flagg. In an earlier STV, we looked at another Maverick, P.J. Washington, and discussed how an Allen-for-Washington deal was the best for both teams.
Allen would benefit the Mavs, but in this trade, Dallas would prefer O’Neale because the contracts are closer in value. In a Marshall for Allen deal, the Mavericks take back an extra $8.7 million for no reason, hindering their ability to make further moves in free agency.
In the O’Neale trade, the Mavericks are still taking on money, but a lot less: $1.4 million, which will still keep them as an under-the-first-apron team. Similarly, for the Suns, this would save them money, allowing them to use the extra change to bring back their own free agents.
Why could this trade get done?
This one could get across the finish line if Dallas were ready to sell some players. For starters, the Suns should be all over this and for the right reasons. One, his contract, as I stated above, is cheaper than O’Neale’s, which would help with the financial hiccups down the line. Secondly, Marshall is a free agent next year, allowing him to have a trial run with the team without committing to any long-term money.
Then you add that Marshall can be a positive for this team and that it’s appreciated. Personally, I’ve loved watching O’Neale over the past few seasons, as he has a winning mentality, heart, and hustle on defense. Unfortunately, he has just gotten a bit older and, with that, has slowed down on defense. Yes, he has gotten streakier as a shooter too, but that always happens with players of his archetype.
For the Suns, Marshall can be exactly what Royce was, but younger and a bit more athletic. We all know O’Neale is that catch-and-shoot scorer on the perimeter, a solid perimeter defender who can scrap for some impactful rebounds. Marshall would come in and play a similar role to fill the void left by Royce.
Even if they are the same size, both at 6’6”, Marshall does seem like he plays a bit bigger and has the same aggressiveness that O’Neale does, which is key. Marshall might be a worse three-point shooter, which is tough, but he still brings value to the squad. He is one of the more efficient scorers in the league, shooting 51% from the field last year. His ability to guard multiple possessions as a solid perimeter defender and knack for scoring at the basket could compensate for his lack of three-point shooting.
He has that blue-collar mentality that O’Neale has, to be a junkyard dog and do all the dirty work, which is all you can ask for in someone who could be a key role player for the team.
The question here, though, now arises with the Mavericks. Will Dallas ship off a younger player for an older one? Do they want to trade someone who is going to be a free agent to get someone locked under contract? Do they think O’Neale can help either now or in the future?
Those are all things the Suns have to worry about if they choose to get this one done. Personally, I don’t know if they would trade Marshall for O’Neale, as they are looking to reshuffle the deck. If they have Cooper Flagg and want to get into that timeline, why go older rather than trade for younger players? That may be the case for Dallas, but could a veteran help them in the future?
With Flagg and Washington already there in Dallas, there really is no need for Marshall either. The same could be said of O’Neale, but on a bad team; the veteran could look like one of their better role players and get flipped down the line. Since he is still under contract, this could allow the Mavs to build on a Marshall flip if his value were to rise.
Ultimately, if Dallas made this move, bringing in O’Neale as a bench presence wouldn’t be bad, especially if they want to avoid being at the very bottom of the Western Conference. If they still want to tank but remain somewhat competitive, O’Neale can step in when needed.
The foolproof way to get this deal done is to make it a three-team deal. This would have the Mavericks trade O’Neale to another contender, then acquire a younger piece or a draft pick to accompany their reshuffle. This makes the most sense for all parties involved and can be done as the offseason progresses.
Overall, a player like Marshall should be someone this front office looks at, as he could add in areas of need and replace a player who plays a similar role without messing up the chemistry too much with a big splash. What do you think, though? Would you welcome a Naji Marshall trade to Phoenix? If not, why?
