The Atlanta Hawks traded Dejounte Murray this offseason. It was clear that their All-Star backcourt duo wasn’t working out, with the franchise missing the 2024 playoffs. Atlanta opted to keep Ice Trae and build around him. The Hawks got Dyson Daniels, Larry Nance Jr., Cody Zeller, EJ Liddell and two first-round draft picks for Murray. Some questioned the value in return (subscription required), but Daniels is already making people rethink that.
The 6-foot-8 guard has struggled to earn a starting position in New Orleans. Last season, he averaged 5.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.4 steals in 22.3 minutes per game. Daniels was above the league average in win shares per 48 minutes, but his defense is ahead of his offense at this point. The Pels have CJ McCollum, Brandon Ingram, Herb Jones and Trey Murphy competing for minutes, making the use of a young guard problematic.
The 21-year-old played a key role for Australia at the 2024 Olympics and showed he could fit well alongside Trae Young in Atlanta. The Hawks wanted the draft capital, of course, but Daniels could be the deciding factor that makes this trade a win for the Hawks.
Trae Young is a quality playmaker and offensive player, but his defense is problematic, which is why Atlanta has struggled to build a consistent winner around him. The Hawks had Murray in mind as a defensive stopper and secondary playmaker, but it just never worked out.
Daniels took on the toughest defensive tasks and showed the versatility needed for the Boomers in Paris. His Australian teammates were effusive in his praise, including NBA veteran Joe Ingles, who called Daniels “an elite player at what he does.” Having a 6-foot-8 guard alongside Ice Trae who is capable of defending the opposition’s best scorers is something Atlanta has lacked.
Daniels averaged 8.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.5 steals in 26.9 minutes per game in the four Olympic Games. Australia went 1-3, losing to Canada, Greece and Serbia, all of whom finished in the top eight. Daniels shot 48.1 percent and made five of his 13 three-point attempts. He’s not an elite scorer, but his playmaking, defense and rebounding can help his team win.
The 21-year-old is still years away from his peak. He barely played for Australia at the 2023 World Cup, but just a year later he was one of the country’s most important players at the Olympic Games. Daniels has a lot of untapped potential and will continue to improve.
Dyson Daniels will get plenty of opportunities this season. Can he become a key defender and playmaker for the Atlanta Hawks? Time will tell, but the franchise has no regrets about signing him after the Olympics. Daniels could be the perfect complement to Trae Young if his shooting technique improves. Nothing is out of the question for the 21-year-old.
Dejounte Murray could reach new heights in New Orleans, but things haven’t gone so well in Atlanta. Getting Daniels and multiple draft picks could be a huge win for the franchise, but only time will tell how it all plays out.
