Masai Ujiri has a proven eye for wings. The Mavericks‘ team president has spent his career identifying and developing players 6-foot-6 and above, a skill that has followed him from Toronto to Dallas.
In Toronto, he helped the team find Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby, Scottie Barnes and Collin Murray-Boyles. He also traded for the likes of Kawhi Leonard, who helped the Raptors win their only championship in franchise history. All those players have similar physical traits that make them the prototypical two-way wing player that NBA franchises covet in a pace-and-space league.
So when the Mavericks announced that Ujiri and the rest of the front office decided to extend wing Naji Marshall, it shouldn’t have surprised anyone.
Marshall has signed a three-year, $52.2 million contract extension, sources told DLLS Sports’ Marc Stein on Sunday. The deal follows a three-year, $27 million free agent contract the Mavericks gave Marshall in 2024.
The extension will start at $18.2 million in 2027-28 and decline over the following two seasons to $17.3 million in 2028-29 and $16.7 million in 2029-30, sources told Stein.
Marshall, 28, will earn roughly 9.5% of the salary cap annually in Year 1 of the deal. The Mavericks’ slasher should remain trade-eligible based on the extension’s descending structure, according to Third Apron founder Yossi Gozlan.
Marshall has played a variety of roles since arriving in Dallas prior to the 2024-25 season, which has helped him earn the nickname “The Knife” for his utility-knife versatility. The 6-foot-6 wing has averaged more than 14 points on 51% shooting from the field across his two seasons with the Mavericks.
But what makes Marshall special is his ability to get into the lane and convert floaters.
Marshall converted 113 of 202 floaters last season (55.9 eFG%). He was one of just three players last season to make at least 100 floaters, along with All-NBA guard Donovan Mitchell and Jalen Brunson.
Marshall shot 10 percentage points better than his shot quality indicated on those types of shots. About 48.5% of his attempts came within eight feet of the rim, where he shot a blistering 64.1%. In the short midrange (8-16 feet), Marshall’s efficiency dropped to 51.3% but remained effective.
Marshall shot below 30% from outside 16 feet, an area the Knife will need to improve next season. But with a sophomore leap expected from reigning Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg and the return of All-Star guard Kyrie Irving, Marshall should get better opportunities to knock down jump shots.
His shooting struggles will need to improve, but playing alongside Irving, Max Christie and newly acquired Tarik Biberović and Santi Aldama shouldn’t hurt his outlook.
Mavericks fans should envision a world where Marshall is a two-way connector who plays off advantages generated by Flagg and Irving. His ability to pass, dribble, rebound and defend should provide immense value for the 2026-27 Mavericks.
Marshall’s salary will land in the same range as Klay Thompson, Keldon Johnson, Patrick Williams, Toumani Camara and Wendell Carter Jr.
He averaged career highs in points, assists, field-goal percentage and steals last season while posting six 30-point games after just two such performances in the two years prior.
So if Marshall keeps improving as he has at every step of his career, this contract should prove to be a bargain for Dallas.
