NBA training camps open next month and, for the most part, teams have their rosters set.
There may be some trades to come. Perhaps more buyouts like we’ve seen with Damian Lillard and others.
But for the most part, what fans see is what they’re going to get on opening night in October.
The Mavericks have made significant changes. They have brought on board D’Angelo Russell and No. 1 draft pick Cooper Flagg, both of whom might be in the Game 1 starting lineup. They said goodbye to Spencer Dinwiddie, who played more games last season than any other Maverick (79 of 82).
Optimism is running high. But it’s a long, long season. And it will take six months to figure out how these Mavericks fit together, particularly when Kyrie Irving returns from knee surgery, possibly in early 2026.
To bring you up to speed, we’ll use the month of August to chronicle every Maverick on the roster heading into training camp. It will help you get familiar with the players and how they might fit into the rotation come October.
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                                                                   NAJI MARSHALL
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Particulars: 6-6, forward, 27 years old.
College: Xavier
What he’s done: Last year Naji Marshall slowly worked his way into becoming an effective permanent fixture in the Mavericks’ rotation. His breakout game came on Nov. 4 against the Indiana Pacers when he finished with 20 points – he converted 8-of-9 shots – five rebounds and six assists. That started a stretch where Marshall would score 13 or more points in 10 of 13 games, highlighted by his 26-point outing during a 123-120 win at Denver on Nov. 22, in which he made 11-of-15 baskets. Marshall also manufactured a memorable 12-game stretch from March 3-25 where he tallied at least 15 points in all of those contests, including shelling out seven 20-point performances and a pair of 30-point outputs. Marshall poured in 34 points, grabbed nine rebounds and distributed 10 assists against 
Phoenix on March 9. He also scored a career-high 38 points at the New York Knicks on March 25. In addition, Marshall collected 29 points and a career-high 17 rebounds against Memphis on March 7. During the aforementioned 12-game stretch of games, Marshall averaged 23.5 points and shot a sizzling 54.1 percent from the field as he continued to prove he was more than worthy of the three-year, $27 million contract he signed with the Mavs when he became a New Orleans Pelicans free agent last summer. In all, Marshall averaged 13.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and three assists last season. He also started 31 games. And the 69 games he played in were eclipsed only by Spencer Dinwiddie (79) and Klay Thompson (72).
What to look for: Since he is so versatile – including having the ability to bring the ball up the floor and initiate the offense – look for Marshall to again have a major role in the Mavs’ rotation. He might not average 27.8 minutes like he did last season, but defenders will have to somehow find a way to deal with the aggressive-minded Marshall once he gets on the court.
Crystal ball: Marshall is among a list of talented small forwards for the Mavs that include P.J. Washington and rookie Cooper Flagg. Thus, playing time could be in short supply for Marshall. However, he does have skills as a shooting guard. Either way, since Marshall shot an impressive 50.8 percent from the field last season, he’ll likely get more than his share of runs this season.
Upcoming: Dante Exum on Monday.
X: @DwainPrice