Max Christie and Naji Marshall Both Swapped Jersey Numbers After the Davis Trade. Here’s Why That Matters.

The Dallas Mavericks have been through a lot over the past few months. The Luka Doncic trade shook the foundation of the franchise, and the brief Anthony Davis era came and went faster than anyone expected. Now the team is moving forward with a reshaped roster and, for two of its players, new jersey numbers to match the new look.

Max Christie is switching from No. 00 to No. 0, according to Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News. That zero belonged to Dante Exum before he was shipped to Washington in the Davis deal. Christie is 23 years old, and the Mavs view him as a long-term piece. He came over from the Lakers in the Doncic trade and last season averaged 12.3 points while shooting 40.4 percent from three on decent volume. He hit more than two triples a night. That kind of production from a young wing who can defend multiple positions is exactly what teams with playoff hopes are looking for.

Naji Marshall also made a switch. He went from No. 13 to No. 3, which was Davis’s number during his short stint in Dallas. Marshall is 28 and in the final year of his contract. He put up 15.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 3.3 assists last season. That kind of production makes him valuable, but it also makes him an asset the Mavs might move before the deadline. According to reports, the defending champion New York Knicks were among the teams that showed interest in him. The front office hasn’t confirmed any trade talks, but front offices around the league are keeping an eye on the situation.

Two different timelines for two different players

Christie looks like part of the future. Marshall could be part of a deal that helps the Mavericks acquire another piece or simply avoids losing him for nothing when he hits free agency. Both decisions on jersey numbers reflect the roster churn that started with the Doncic trade and continued through the Davis deal. The Mavs are still figuring out what they have. These small changes are just a reminder that nothing is settled yet.

Fans online noted the switch quickly, and some wondered if Christie taking No. 0 was a sign he expects to be around for a while. The team hasn’t said anything officially about that, but it’s not a bad guess. Christie’s development over the next season or two will tell Dallas a lot about where this rebuild-slash-retool is heading. Marshall, meanwhile, might not be around long enough to break in his new jersey.