Lakers' Naji Marshall Trade Approved Post-Deadline
The Los Angeles Lakers' acquisition of Naji Marshall has been officially approved by the NBA following a league review. Although the deal was completed after the trade deadline, the league affirmed its compliance, providing the Lakers with additional defensive depth for their playoff campaign.
- Before joining the Lakers, Naji Marshall was in his second season with the Dallas Mavericks, where he was averaging 15.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game for the 2025-26 season. - Marshall is currently in the second year of a three-year, $27 million contract he signed with the Mavericks in July 2024. - The acquisition aims to bolster a Lakers defense that ranked 17th in the NBA with a defensive rating of 113.8 during the 2024-25 season. - Marshall, a 6-foot-6 forward, is known for his defensive capabilities and ability to guard multiple positions on the perimeter. - This trade marks the second significant deal between the Lakers and Mavericks in the past year, following the blockbuster move that sent Luka Dončić to Los Angeles during the 2025 trade deadline. - The Lakers had previously expressed interest in acquiring Marshall, but reports indicated the Mavericks were hesitant to engage in trade discussions with them after the Dončić trade. - An undrafted player out of Xavier in the 2020 NBA draft, Marshall began his career by signing a two-way contract with the New Orleans Pelicans.
