When it comes to Dyson Daniels, it's time for the Atlanta Hawks to start talking about an extension. The next offseason will see the young point guard become a restricted free agent, and Daniels is not a player the Hawks can afford to lose.
At the same time, he is definitely someone the Sacramento Kings should try to add to their roster. Under head coach Doug Christie, there is a renewed focus on defense. That's good, except the Kings are working with a rather similar roster to last year so far.
There is potential in the current Kings crew to become a more defensive-minded group. That will only go so far without making some changes to the team. Specifically, the front office is going to need to add more players with a defense-first mindset in order to bring this plan to reality.
Dyson Daniels on defense
Drafted in 2022 by the Pelicans, Dyson Daniels spent two lackluster seasons in New Orleans. That wasn't really his fault, though. The Pels aren't exactly a great team, and they don't seem to be getting any better. Still, the Atlanta Hawks saw something in Daniels, so he was part of a 2024 trade.
The 2024-2025 season was Dyson's breakout. He went from 5.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.4 steals per game with the Pelicans the previous season to 14.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 3.0 steals with the Hawks. More minutes and a change in scenery made all the difference.
For the dramatic shift in his game, Daniels was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team, as well as being crowned the NBA steals leader and the NBA Most Improved Player. In one season, he became one of the most sought-after defenders in the entire league. And he's only 22.
Daniels in Sacramento
Look, this is an absolute long shot at best. The Hawks are going to do everything in their power to sign Daniels to a long-term extension. Their front office would have to be insane to let a defensive player of the caliber of Daniels go, particularly since he hasn't even reached his prime years.
That doesn't change the fact that the Kings should be keeping their eyes on him. If they are serious about strengthening their defensive profile, Daniels would be an incredible addition to the roster. The Hawks might leave a window open for the Kings to enter the Daniels conversation.