4 players who will benefit most from Hawks' Dejounte Murray trade

Dyson Daniels should receive ample opportunity to prove himself with Hawks

The Hawks will want to justify Dyson Daniels as the centerpiece of the Dejounte Murray trade even with two first-rounders also included in the deal.

Daniels was the No. 8 overall pick in the 2022 draft. He is coming off a career season averaging 5.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.4 steals. However, he also shot 31.1% from beyond the arc, a step back from his 31.4% clip in 2022-23.

Perhaps most concerning is that Daniels is also a poor free throw shooter.

Daniels averaged 8.0 points with 5.3 boards, 3.3 assists, and 1.4 steals over the final eight games of the regular season. He shot 43.5% on 2.9 attempts from three in that span. 

However, his role was significantly reduced in the Pelican’s first-round playoff series loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. After averaging 22 minutes during the regular season, Daniels saw fewer than eight minutes in his three postseason appearances.

He was a DNP-CD in the decisive Game 4 of the series.

Where he fits in Snyder’s three-point-laden scheme remains to be seen. But he is a good bet to get every opportunity to prove he does not belong in the rotation.

The Pelicans’ differential was better with Daniels off the floor with a plus-4.9 rating last season. They still posted a plus-3.6 rating with him. He also goes from one acclaimed shooting coach in Fred Vinson, now with the Detroit Pistons, to Hawks assistant GM Kyle Korver.

It is on Daniels to make the necessary strides, much like Johnson has, and, hopefully, like Bufkin will.