The Atalanta Hawks made one of the biggest trades of the NBA offseason when they traded Dejounte Murray to the New Orleans Pelicans for Dyson Daniels, Larry Nance, EJ Liddell, Cody Zeller and two first-round picks. Daniels was one of the most underrated acquisitions of the offseason and he showed it at the Summer Olympics, playing for Team Australia. While he is a returning player in the Murray trade, he will also wear Murray’s old number, No. 5.
Dyson Daniels (@DysonDaniels) will be number 5 for the #FalconsNumber last worn by Dejounte Murray in 2024. #NBA pic.twitter.com/3abiaWMmfD
– Etienne Catalan (@EtienneCatalan) August 28, 2024
A 2024 Panini Rising Star, Daniels recorded 1.4 steals per game during the 2023-24 campaign, which ranked 10th in the NBA, and posted a .341 steal percentage last season, which ranked fifth in the league (min. 50 GP). He recorded a career-high six steals at Utah on Nov. 25, becoming the only sophomore to steal at least six steals in a single game last season and one of only two freshmen or sophomores to do so, joining Victor Wembanyama. He recorded all six steals in the first half, tying him for the most steals in a single half in the NBA last season and tying him for the second-most steals in a single half in New Orleans history.
Selected eighth overall in the 2022 NBA Draft by the Pelicans, the 6-foot-1 guard has career averages of 4.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.1 steals and 20.0 minutes in 120 games (including 27 starts). Prior to the Pelicans, he spent the 2021-22 season with NBA G League Ignite, where he was named to the 2022 Clorox Rising Stars roster.
Daniels has been one of the least talked about players in the NBA this offseason, but he has a chance to make a real difference for Atlanta. That’s why I think he’s the Hawks’ most underrated player this season.
