The Atlanta Hawks have made a bit of a roster change this offseason and now have some intriguing pieces around star point guard Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks. off season went a little unnoticed.
Most NBA fans are familiar with some of the players on the Hawks roster. Young is of course well-known for his skills, Jalen Johnson emerged last season, Bogdan Bogdanovic is coming off a show at the Summer Olympics, and the center tandem of Clint Capela and Onyeka Okongwu is one of the best in the league. But who are the lesser-known players on this team who could make waves this season? Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report gave his answer in a recent article:
“Jalen Johnson would have been a dynamic pick this time a year ago, but word got out about him after a very loud breakout in 2023-24.
The Atlanta Hawks are hoping to get something similar from Dyson Daniels, the crown jewel of Dejounte Murray’s return package.
A New Orleans Pelicans team featuring Zion Williamson and Jonas Valanciunas didn’t give Daniels much time, an absolute terror on defense but not a threat as a shooter. On a Hawks team with Trae Young and lineups that are expected to feature only one player who can’t space the floor (Clint Capela or Onyeka Okongwu), Daniels will be better positioned to succeed.
Still just 21 years old, the 6-foot-10 point guard is a willing passer with the size to find angles others can’t. On the flip side, Daniels is a sneaky bet to lead the league in steals if he can carve out 30 minutes a night. Elite rebounding for his position, especially on the offensive end, will also give Daniels a chance to fill up the stat sheet.
And if his rider arrives, watch out.”
I have been in writing I’ve talked a lot about Daniels all summer and I think he could be one of the stars of the NBA this season if given the opportunity. Daniels is already one of the best defenders in the NBA and appears to be a great fit next to Trae Young if his jump shot can start falling at a consistent rate.
Daniels was the best player the Hawks got from New Orleans in the Dejounte Murray trade and was praised for his defensive abilities. Hawks general manager Landry Fields spoke to the media after the Murray trade and said Daniels’ defensive abilities were one of the things that intrigued them when they got him in the trade:
“His defensive versatility is something that really stands out. His shot has improved, which is something we think can improve over time as he develops. So we’re able to help him stay the course defensively and make some adjustments offensively.”
Daniels played in 61 games (including 16 as a start) during the 2023-24 season, posting career-highs of 5.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.4 steals in 22.3 minutes. He scored 10 or more points in a career-best 13 games during the 2023-24 campaign, scoring a career-high 17 points against the Dallas Mavericks on Nov. 12.
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.
The acquisition of Daniels has gone unnoticed around the league, but it could make a huge difference for the Atlanta Hawks.
