The Dallas Mavericks are maintaining a middling position in recent NBA power rankings as the trade deadline approaches. Despite a mix of wins and losses, the team faces uncertainty amid a quiet league-wide market. Naji Marshall's strong performances have provided a bright spot for the roster.
The Dallas Mavericks have been floating along in the NBA power rankings, showing little change in recent editions. According to reports, the team secured a handful of wins before suffering a string of losses, a pattern typical of lottery contenders. This comes ahead of next week's NBA trade deadline, which has remained remarkably quiet across the league.
A reported trade request from Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo has paused activity from team leadership, as markets are calibrated. While the Mavericks are not directly involved, their organizational direction and roster strategy remain unclear.
Naji Marshall has emerged as a key performer since starting as the de facto point guard in early January. He has averaged 20.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 4.5 assists, shooting 57.6% from the floor, helping Dallas achieve a 6-4 record in that stretch. The 6-foot-6 wing ranks among the NBA's most efficient drivers, shooting 60.5% on drives—trailing only Luka Doncic among top scorers—thanks to his effective floater, per NBA tracking data from ESPN's Tim MacMahon.
Defensively, the Mavericks face challenges ahead, with seven of their final eight games before the All-Star break against top-10 offensive teams. They have limited the Houston Rockets to 108.0 points per 100 possessions in three meetings, with the season series concluding on Saturday.
Bleacher Report notes the Mavericks went 0-4 following an undefeated week, highlighting inconsistency. The Athletic points to Dallas leading the league in lost clutch-time games, including a recent fourth-quarter collapse against the Los Angeles Lakers, where they blew a 15-point lead and were outscored 29-8 after overcoming a 14-point deficit.
