After months of trade rumors, the Hawks have traded Dejounte Murray to the Pelicans.
Dyson Daniels, a former top-10 pick and just 21 years old, is now part of Atlanta’s roster. This move aims to bolster the Hawks’ defense at the point of attack. Unlike Murray, Daniels doesn’t need many touches to be effective and will likely focus on defense. He can switch actions to help out Trae Young, who sometimes struggles with defense.
“Daniels has two years left on a rookie deal that will pay him $6.1 million this year and $7.7 million next year,” wrote The Athletic’s John Hollinger about the trade. “He struggles shooting and didn’t really fit in New Orleans because they had so many other suspect marksmen, but in Atlanta, he becomes a vital piece who may start to offset noted matador Young.”
Building Around Trae Young:
Atlanta is slowly adding players around Young that make sense for his style of play. Their defense has been weak recently, ranking 27th in the NBA last season. With Daniels as a core perimeter defender, they hope to improve significantly over time.
Fans might think this trade shows that the Hawks are serious about fixing their issues.
The Hawks are also banking on forward Jalen Johnson to develop into a star alongside Young. Johnson’s presence has already made Atlanta better on both offense and defense, reducing the burden on Young to create all the plays himself.
Young now has a team designed to highlight his skills better than before. Getting Daniels in exchange for Murray was a smart move by Atlanta’s management. This gives Daniels plenty of opportunities for growth with significant playing time in the starting lineup.
Although it’s unlikely they’ll become contenders immediately, these moves show they’re working towards long-term improvement.
What do you think about this trade? Is it good for both teams?
