The Under-the-Radar Player the Knicks Should Target

The previously-undrafted wing spent several years with the New Orleans Pelicans building up his two-way value before signing a three-year deal with the Mavericks two summers ago.

The defense and unique playmaking punch he provided were enough to convince Dallas' front office that he could be a trusted role player within the Luka Doncic system, but management's sudden decision to trade the perennial MVP candidate and the then-reigning-Western Conference Finals MVP has left him floating in no-man's-land ever since. The rebuilding Mavericks currently occupy the Western Conference's 12th seed, a long way away from the contending situation he signed up for.

He's posting better counting stats than ever, now up to career-highs in points per game at 14.2 on a personal-record field goal percentage of 54%. Despite his rocky 3-point shooting, the wing plays bigger than he is in bullying his way to all of his spots all across the painted area, finishing at a rate that more closely resembles a lob-catching center than a 6'6 drive-and-kick threat.

How Could New York Benefit from Marshall?

While the veteran forward no longer fits in with Dallas' long-term plans of building around Cooper Flagg, he remains an asset, and the Mavericks' new front office has been interested in offloading older players. Look no further than the Anthony Davis storyline, where they'll attempt to recoup value by dumping the big name and his bigger contract on someone else's property.

Marshall at least suits up regularly, and impresses when doing so. It doesn't even matter who he's left out there with, fluctuating between minutes with the starters and possessions directing fringe-big leaguers. The defense and self-creation as a scorer and passer he's repeatedly demonstrated would go appreciated on the Knicks, where he'd get another shot at playing meaningful, playoff basketball.

His contract, set to pay around $9 million over each of the next two seasons, will place some pressure on the Mavericks to extend him or trade him before they lose their leverage. Should they not want to trade a pick, the contracts of frequent trade machine regular Guerschon Yabusele and 3&D guard Miles McBride add up to equivalent value to Marshall's deal, though parting ways with McBride in the midst of his heater certainly does make one hesitate. Should they hold the line on keeping him, sophomore prospects Tyler Kolek and Pacome Dadiet combine enough to match McBride's AAV.

While Marshall and his cheap contract don't have to be the move that the Knicks pursue, those margin contributors are the sort that they should keep an ear to the ground for. Unless a Karl-Anthony Towns trade offer appears out of thin air, they're likely sticking with their current starting lineup, but that doesn't mean they have to stop improving around the stars.