Dyson Daniels

NBA Announces Finalists For 2024/25 Awards

April 20th, 2025 at 6:22pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Nuggets center Nikola Jokic are the three finalists for the league’s Most Valuable Player award this season, the league announced on Sunday (Twitter link).

While all three players put up monster numbers, Gilgeous-Alexander is generally considered the favorite to win the award due in large part to the Thunder’s team success this season. Oklahoma City won a league-high 68 regular season games, compared to 50 for Jokic’s Nuggets and 48 for Antetokounmpo’s Bucks.

The finalists for each award represent the top three vote-getters. The winners will be announced at a later date.

Here’s a rundown of the finalists for the major NBA awards voted on by media members:

Coach of the Year

Kenny Atkinson (Cavaliers)
J.B. Bickerstaff (Pistons)
Ime Udoka (Rockets)

Rookie of the Year

Stephon Castle (Spurs)
Zaccharie Risacher (Hawks)
Jaylen Wells (Grizzlies)

Sixth Man of the Year

Malik Beasley (Pistons)
Ty Jerome (Cavaliers)
Payton Pritchard (Celtics)

Defensive Player of the Year

Dyson Daniels (Hawks)
Draymond Green (Warriors)
Evan Mobley (Cavaliers)

Most Improved Player

Cade Cunningham (Pistons)
Dyson Daniels (Hawks)
Ivica Zubac (Clippers)

Clutch Player of the Year

Jalen Brunson (Knicks)
Anthony Edwards (Timberwolves)
Nikola Jokic (Nuggets)

Hawks Notes: Young, Snyder, Daniels, Offseason

April 19th, 2025 at 5:00pm CST by Arthur Hill

Trae Young described the season as a “failure” after being eliminated from the play-in tournament with Friday’s loss to Miami, writes Michael Cunningham of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The Hawks appeared to be in a good position to earn a playoff spot after finishing eighth in the East, but they were overwhelmed in the play-in opener at Orlando and couldn’t overcome the Heat in an overtime battle.

You could make a case that the Hawks overachieved considering their young roster and numerous injuries, including the loss of star forward Jalen Johnson, who underwent season-ending shoulder surgery in late January. But Young doesn’t believe there should be any excuses for not advancing past the play-in.

“For me, personally, not making the playoffs is a failure for me,” he said. “No matter who’s out there, no matter how much adversity we faced, I still feel like we’ve got a good enough group to make the playoffs and at least go in there and compete.”

As Cunningham notes, the early exit casts more doubt on Young’s future with the team. He has one guaranteed year remaining on his contract at $46MM, along with a nearly $49MM player option for 2026/27. The Hawks reportedly explored potential deals involving Young last season and could decide to revisit that option this summer. But after Friday’s loss, he sounded like he plans to stay in Atlanta.

“The goal is to always win, of course, but when you have the kind of team that we have, you know there is going to be bumps and bruises,” Young added. “It’s not easy for me. Hopefully next year can focus on winning.”

There’s more on the Hawks:

General manager Landry Fields shot down any speculation that he might consider replacing head coach Quin Snyder (Twitter video link from Caleb Johnson of 929 The Game). “Quin has done a terrific job. I couldn’t be more thrilled,” Fields told reporters. “I’m excited about what we’ve built and are building.”
One of the most positive developments for the Hawks was the emergence of Dyson Daniels as a Defensive Player of the Year candidate after he was acquired in an offseason trade with the Pelicans. Daniels talked to Marc J. Spears of Andscape about what led to his breakthrough season. “I don’t point fingers at anyone but myself,” Daniels said. “I came in there in New Orleans and took a step back. I let the superstars be the superstars. I didn’t fit into being a role player. Coming into the NBA, you can’t do that. If you want to settle for being a role player, then you’re going to be out of the league in a few years. So, that’s what I did in New Orleans and I know it wasn’t me. … It was my confidence. I was second-guessing myself and in my head too much. I came here [Atlanta] with a free mind.”
ESPN’s Bobby Marks looks ahead to the Hawks’ offseason in an Insider-only story and a YouTube video. Marks points out that Daniels will be extension-eligible this summer and states that making a decision on Young’s future will be a priority.

Stein/Fischer’s Latest: Griffin, Green, Suns, Beal, More

April 13th, 2025 at 1:02pm CST by Luke Adams

There has been buzz around the NBA this weekend about the future in New Orleans, where the futures of Pelicans head of basketball operations David Griffin and head coach Willie Green appear tenuous, according to Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link). League sources tell The Stein Line that some people around the league are “undeniably bracing” for Griffin’s exit from the franchise, with Green also said to be on the hot seat.

While injuries were once again a significant factor this season, it has been a disappointing run in recent years for the Pelicans, who haven’t been able to capitalize on getting the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 draft and acquiring significant trade hauls for Anthony Davis (in 2019) and Jrue Holiday (2020). The club has made the playoffs in only two of the past six seasons and won just two total games in those postseason appearances.

Dyson Daniels‘ rise in Atlanta this season, after he was sent to the Hawks in last summer’s Dejounte Murray trade, has been a “source of tension” within the Pelicans organization, Stein and Fischer say, noting that Green has been questioned internally for having often leaned on Jose Alvarado over Daniels from 2022-24.

Still, Stein and Fischer caution that there were “whispers” about Green’s job being in danger following New Orleans’ 5-29 start in the fall and he has made it through the season, so there’s a chance he could be retained through the offseason too. He’s known to hold “significant support” from owner Gayle Benson, according to The Stein Line.

Here are a few more items of interest from Stein and Fischer:

While it’s somewhat rare for a team to clean house by firing its head of basketball operations and head coach at the same time, Denver did it last week and the Suns have been “painted” as a team that could follow suit, write Stein and Fischer. General manager James Jones has been atop the front office hierarchy since 2018, whereas head coach Mike Budenholzer just joined the organization on a five-year contract in 2024.
In addition to exploring a Kevin Durant trade, the Suns are “known to be trying to extricate themselves” from the final two years of Bradley Beal‘s contract, Stein and Fischer confirm. That will be easier said than done, given his no-trade clause and the $111MM he’s still owed. But for what it’s worth, plugged-in Phoenix insider John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 said last week that there’s a “zero percent chance” Beal will be back on the Suns next season (Twitter link).
If Chauncey Billups hadn’t signed a contract extension with the Trail Blazers, there was a belief he might emerge as a candidate in Phoenix and/or Denver, according to Fischer and Stein. It remains to be seen whether the Suns will make a coaching change this spring, but some of their players were said last May to be high on Billups. The Nuggets, meanwhile, will definitely have a coaching vacancy, but it’s unclear whether or not they would have targeted Billups — as Fischer and Stein explain, there was a sense that Billups, a Denver native, would have been interested in that job if Portland hadn’t retained him.
Berlin, Germany and London, England are viewed as the frontrunners among European cities to host NBA regular season games next season, with Manchester also believed to be in consideration, per The Stein Line.

Southeast Notes: Hawks, Sarr, Middleton

April 6th, 2025 at 4:40pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

Despite having lost their last three games in a row and six of their last 10 contests overall, the Hawks have been making a push to develop their young perimeter players with a play-in tournament berth already assured, writes Jake Fischer for Hawks.com.

No. 1 overall pick Zaccharie Risacher in particular has been taking positive strides as the season has transitioned into its home stretch. Accordingly, he has been named the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for two months running.

“(Trae Young is) more comfortable and aggressive throwing the ball ahead and seeing those guys attack the rim in transition,” Hawks head coach Quin Snyder said.

“The floor’s more open,” Young agreed. “And that causes my defender to make a decision whether to help or stay with me.”

The growth of 23-year-old forward Jalen Johnson, prior to his season-ending shoulder injury, and 22-year-old guard Dyson Daniels, a strong All-Defensive Team candidate, also gives the team major hope for the future.

“We think we can propel this team to a championship one day,” Daniels said. “The more we play together, the more chemistry we develop, the more experience we get, the more games we’re going to win.”

There’s more out of the Southeast Division:

Another Rookie of the Year candidate, Wizards big man Alex Sarr, has been showing plenty of promise as Washington’s lottery-bound 2024/25 season has wound down, writes Josh Robbins of The Athletic. The 19-year-old, selected with the No. 2 pick last summer, has been taking particular pride in his recent play on defense. “I love that he celebrated a defensive play,” coach Brian Keefe said, referring to a key block in a late-game situation in March. “It wasn’t just an offensive play. That’s winning stuff. That’s a winning play he made. If he wanted to be excited about that, that’s great, because we want him to anchor our defense.” Sarr’s shooting from distance has come and gone this season, but he has been enjoying consistent minutes, which he appreciates. “Being able to have freedom helps you develop as a player,” Sarr told Robbins, “knowing the things maybe you shouldn’t do, the things you have to work on.”
Former All-Star wing Khris Middleton, just two months into his Wizards tenure, has become a stabilizing veteran presence. According to Chase Hughes of Monumental Sports Network (subscriber link), Middleton already leads Washington in taking charges. The 33-year-old veteran’s willingness to put his body on the line has inspired his young teammates, Hughes opines.
In case you missed it, veteran Heat wing Andrew Wiggins is hoping to be back before Miami’s regular season ends, although there is no set timeline yet for his return from his right hamstring tendinopathy.

Southeast Notes: Anthony, Houstan, Daniels, Rozier

April 1st, 2025 at 5:49pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Magic guard Cole Anthony returned to action on Tuesday after missing seven games with a left big toe strain. He was upgraded from questionable to available prior to Orlando’s contest against San Antonio, the team’s PR department tweets.

Anthony has appeared in 61 games this season, averaging 9.6 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.9 assists per contest. He’s in the first year of a three-year, $39.1MM contract.

We have more from the Southeast Division:

Caleb Houstan received rotation minutes over the past six Magic games in Anthony’s absence. The highlight of that stretch for Houstan was an 18-point outing against Sacramento on Saturday. “He’s always consistent, no matter if he’s playing or not playing, if he’s in or out of the rotation,” Paolo Banchero told Beede. “He’s always showing up, getting his work in. Every time he shoots it, it has a pretty good chance of going in.” Orlando holds a $2.19MM club option on Houstan’s contract for next season, which must be exercised by the end of June.
Hawks defensive ace Dyson Daniels, just named Defensive Player of the Month in the Eastern Conference, is pleased with the chemistry on the team. “I think we have really good pieces on this team, and pieces that work well together,” Daniels told Sportskeeda’s Grant Afseth. “Obviously, (Trae Young is) our guy, the motor of the team. We try to look after him, set him screens, get him open, and he does the same for us. He’s a really good passer.”
Terry Rozier had dropped out of the Heat‘s rotation until Monday, when he played 33 minutes against Washington with a host of players missing the contest. Rozier contributed 15 points, six rebounds and five assists. The veteran guard, who has one year left on his contract, admits it’s best a rough season for him. “It’s never easy for a competitor, especially me,” he said, per Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel. “You work so hard and then it just becomes unfortunate with the situation. But you just try to stay positive through it all, and give grace and still be thankful that I’m in this position. You try to keep working hard, waiting for my name to be called again.”

Dyson Daniels, Draymond Green Named Defensive Players Of The Month

April 1st, 2025 at 2:42pm CST by Luke Adams

Hawks guard Dyson Daniels, who was named the Eastern Conference Defensive Player of the Month for games played in October/November, has won the award for the second time this season, the NBA announced today (via Twitter). Daniels is the East’s Defensive Player of the Month for March.

Daniels, who has become a legitimate contender for Defensive Player of the Year in his first season as a Hawk, continued to wreak havoc on opposing offenses in March, leading the NBA in steals (3.3), deflections (5.4), and forced turnovers (3.1) per contest over the course of 14 games as Atlanta went 9-5.

Daniels is the second Eastern Conference player to be recognized with two Defensive Player of the Month awards this season, joining Cavaliers big man Evan Mobley, who earned the honor in both December and February.

Meanwhile, in the Western Conference, Warriors forward Draymond Green was named the Defensive Player of the Month for March.

Green, who advocated for himself as a top DPOY candidate a couple weeks ago, backed up the claim with his performance on that end of the court in March. According to the NBA, Green ranked third in the West in steals (1.9) and contested shots (9.1) per game for the month, while Golden State had the fourth-best defensive rating in the league (109.7).

Five different players have been named Defensive Player of the Month in the West this season — Green joins Victor Wembanyama, Jaren Jackson Jr., Amen Thompson, and Toumani Camara as the honorees in the award’s inaugural season.

Mobley, Knicks forward OG Anunoby, and Raptors forward Scottie Barnes were also nominated for the Eastern Conference’s Defensive Player of the Month award for March, according to the NBA (Twitter link). The West’s other nominees were Camara, Clippers center Ivica Zubac, and Thunder wing Luguentz Dort.

Hawks Notes: Young, LeVert, Daniels, Capela

March 28th, 2025 at 11:00am CST by Arthur Hill

A year ago, there was trade speculation regarding Trae Young, but the Hawks now seem committed to him as the veteran leader of an inexperienced roster. Young, who’s in his seventh year with Atlanta, talked about his situation in an interview with Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, saying it’s “not new territory.”

“People probably know that this isn’t the first time I’ve been a part of a team with young guys and where they wanted me to lead,” he said. “I think this is really what they wanted me to do this year. Not focus on the wins and losses. It’s more about how I can bring the young guys along and build them up and build their confidence up as much as possible.”

The Hawks appear to have a bright future after remaking their roster over the past 12 months. The most significant moves were trading for Dyson Daniels and drafting Zaccharie Risacher with the No. 1 pick. They form a promising young core along with Jalen Johnson, who was in the midst of his best NBA season before it was ended in January by a torn labrum in his left shoulder.

Young will become eligible for an extension this summer, but he sidestepped a question from Scotto about whether he expects to sign a new deal.

“I’m still stuck in the moment right now and not really focusing on that right now,” he said. “I know it’s going to come. People will be asking questions here. I’m just focusing on this team, building these young guys, and giving them confidence. At the end of the year, everything else will be discussed.”

There’s more on the Hawks, all from Scotto:

Caris LeVert, who was acquired from Cleveland at the trade deadline, tells Scotto that he’s interested in staying with Atlanta when he becomes a free agent this summer. LeVert adds that he was “playing a certain role” with the Cavaliers and he “can play more like myself” in the Hawks’ system. “I love this situation that I’m in right now. I love this team,” LeVert said. “The staff has welcomed me with open arms. I didn’t really know (head coach) Quin (Snyder) previously before coming here. Obviously, I’ve admired his style from afar for a long time. Antonio (Lang), Ekpe Udoh and Ron Nored on the staff I’ve had relationships with, so I feel pretty comfortable here. Like I always tell them, I’d love to re-sign here. My focus right now is the rest of the season and making the playoffs. It’s definitely something I’d want.”
Daniels is among the favorites for Defensive Player of the Year honors, but he tells Scotto it feels like “a big man’s award.” Daniels, who leads the league in steals by a wide margin, adds that he gained more confidence in his game since coming to Atlanta. “Coach Quin has instilled confidence in me to play freely and be myself,” Daniels said. “My teammates have given me confidence as well. It’s just that my mindset has changed. I’ve come in wanting to be more aggressive and play more freely without any restrictions. I think it’s been more that my mindset has changed rather than anything between the two organizations.”
Clint Capela is expected to leave the Hawks in free agency this summer, sources tell Scotto. The veteran center is currently sidelined with a ligament injury in his left hand and may not return if Atlanta doesn’t reach at least the first round of the playoffs.

Community Shootaround: Most Improved Player

March 23rd, 2025 at 8:25pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Most Improved Player award has – at least according to the oddsmakers – become a two-man race.

On one side is Cade Cunningham, the face of the vastly-improved Pistons. On the other is Dyson Daniels, who has blossomed into a stat-sheet stuffing backcourt partner for Hawks star Trae Young.

Let’s examine their cases.

Cunningham came into Sunday’s action averaging 25.7 points, 9.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds in 35.2 minutes per game. Last season, when the Pistons won just 14 games, Cunningham averaged 22.7 points, 7.5 assists and 4.3 rebounds in 32.5 minutes per contest

The only negative would be an increase in turnovers per game this season (4.5) compared to 3.4 last season. That’s due in part to the season-ending leg injury to Jaden Ivey on New Year’s Day, which has put the ball in Cunningham’s hands more often. His usage rate is 34.4%, up from 31.7%.

Cunningham, a first-time All-Star, has benefited from an improved supporting cast. He’s got a better group of veterans around him this season, allowing him to be a more effective play-maker. He’s embraced his leadership role and delivered in the clutch, making game-winners such as his buzzer-beating three-pointer against Miami on Wednesday.

There was little doubt Cunningham could be this kind of player. After all, he was the top pick of the 2021 draft and got a max extension last season. Should those facts work against his candidacy? However, there’s no denying that Cunningham’s steady brilliance has silenced any doubters regarding the franchise’s faith in him after its worst season.

Daniels, a third-year wing, was mainly a second-unit player in his first two seasons with the Pelicans. Included in the blockbuster deal that sent Dejounte Murray to New Orleans, Daniels has seized the opportunity to become a full-time starter.

In 65 starts, Daniels is averaging 14.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 3.0 steals in 33.9 minutes per game. Last season, Daniels posted 5.8 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 2.7 APG, and 1.4 SPG in 22.3 MPG.

He’s the runaway leader in the league in steals per game, making him a dark-horse candidate for Defensive Player of the Year, an award typically dominated by centers and forwards.

Working against Daniels’ candidacy is that he doesn’t have the pressure of being the team’s star like Cunningham. The Hawks also have a losing record, though they still lead the weak Southeast Division. But the No. 8 pick of the 2022 draft has clearly made a name for himself after two nondescript seasons with the Pelicans.

Clippers veteran forward Norman Powell was a prime candidate for the award until an injury derailed his campaign and made him ineligible.

Christian Braun, Evan Mobley and Tyler Herro are some of the other players have been mentioned as candidates.

That brings us to today’s topic: Who’s your selection for the Most Improved Player award – the Pistons’ Cunningham or Hawks’ Daniels? Or is there another player more worthy of that honor?

Please take to the comments section to weigh in on this topic. We look forward to your input.

Southeast Notes: Wizards, Sarr, Daniels, Magic

March 23rd, 2025 at 11:59am CST by Arthur Hill

The Wizards looked like a team in contention for the top pick in the draft for most of Saturday’s game at New York before a late rally made things close, writes Varun Shankar of The Washington Post. Washington trimmed a 33-point deficit down to four points early in the fourth quarter, but the Knicks were able to regroup and finish off a 122-103 victory, giving the Wizards a half-game edge over Utah in the race for the league’s worst record.

“Showed great resolve during that period. … The guys just continued to make the right play on both ends of the floor,” coach Brian Keefe said. “It wasn’t home run plays. It was a box out, a deflection, making the right pass. And then we just stacked those possessions.”

After reducing the minutes for his veteran players earlier this week, Keefe has returned to a regular rotation. Khris Middleton was held out Saturday because it was the second night of a back-to-back, but Jordan Poole was on the court for nearly 28 minutes and backup center Richaun Holmes returned to action after sitting out the previous three games. Shankar notes that Keefe only used eight players until late in the third quarter when Colby Jones and Anthony Gill entered the game and helped to spark the rally.

There’s more from the Southeast Division:

The Wizards showed more confidence in rookie center Alex Sarr than they did in their last meeting the Knicks, Shankar adds. Previously, Keefe used small forward Justin Champagnie as the primary defender on Karl-Anthony Towns, with Sarr roaming on defense. On Saturday, Keefe let Sarr handle Towns one-on-one. “I loved it,” teammate Marcus Smart said. “He’s learning. Towns is a vet in this league, and he’s been doing this for a very long time. … [Sarr] has to get a little bit stronger — he knows it. But I liked the approach he had. He wasn’t running from the challenge. And he’s only going to get better.”
Hawks guard Dyson Daniels had three more steals on Saturday, increasing his league-leading total to 197 on the season. With at least one steal in 41 straight games, he tied Mookie Blaylock for the third-longest streak in franchise history, according to Lauren Williams of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “I’m proud of that kid. I think he’s DPOY (Defensive Player of the Year) for the season,” Onyeka Okongwu said. “I’m excited to watch him going forward.”
The Magic are hoping Friday’s 120-point outburst at Washington will spark their offense for the rest of the season, per Jason Beede of The Orlando Sentinel. He notes that Orlando is 7-1 when reaching the 120-point mark, but the team still has the league’s least-productive offense at 104.8 PPG. “It was huge,” coach Jamahl Mosley said of Friday’s performance. “Our guys understanding what we need to do, how we need to take care of business when we are on the road one game at a time and focus in these moments to play the right-type defense and have our offense clicking at the right is very important for this group as continue down the stretch.”

Hawks GM Fields: Scouting Department ‘Crushed It’ On Daniels

March 19th, 2025 at 12:11pm CST by Luke Adams

When the Hawks and Pelicans were discussing a Dejounte Murray deal last offseason, Dyson Daniels was the one player that Landry Fields insisted must be included in the trade package, Atlanta’s general manager tells Ken Sugiura of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

“(Daniels) was one guy that, when we were engaged with the Pelicans, he was a must for us to be in that deal,” Fields said. “We saw the archetype, we knew who he was as a person — doing our homework — and just the type of player that he was then and what he could be in a change of environment. (The Hawks’ scouting department) did a really good job in that.”

As Sugiura writes, the Hawks were high on Daniels back in 2022 when he entered the NBA draft as a 19-year-old due to his positional size, his promising tools, and the fact that he was one of the younger players in the draft class.

They had the No. 16 overall pick that year and didn’t get a chance to select the Australian prospect, who went eighth overall to the Pelicans, but Fields and the Hawks’ scouts continued to keep an eye on him over the next couple years.

“There was a lot of really good indicators there that would suggest he was going to have a real chance to be a good player in the NBA,” Fields explained, noting that while Daniels’ defensive tools were obvious, Atlanta was bullish on his offensive potential as well. “We see the indicators and areas that he could grow. We’re looking at what his floor is, and we really liked that. And that takes a lot of work in combing through a number of different games and situations and not just watching highlights.”

For Fields and his scouting department, the Murray trade with New Orleans has gone “about as good as they could have hoped,” one NBA scout told Sugiura. Besides acquiring Daniels, the Hawks received Larry Nance Jr. and a pair of future first-round picks in that swap.

Daniels has been the prize so far though, emerging one of the NBA’s most impactful defenders while taking a significant step forward offensively too. The 22-year-old has averaged 14.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and a league-leading 3.0 steals per game through 64 outings (all starts), with a shooting line of .485/.345/.587.

“It’s always really exciting to watch a player kind of blossom in front of you, especially when he’s on your team,” Fields said. “… I think our scouting group crushed it on this one.”

Daniels looks like a lock for a spot on an All-Defensive team and figures to receive plenty of Most Improved Player votes too.

Defensive Player of the Year voters have historically favored big men, but the third-year guard has also made himself a legitimate DPOY contender by wreaking havoc on that end of the court. Daniels’ 194 steals and 382 deflections give him a massive lead over the second-place player in each category (117 and 248, respectively).

“Dyson’s just been killing. He’s been all over it — Defensive Player of the Year for me,” Clippers guard Ben Simmons recently told Grant Afseth of RG.org in a conversation about Australia’s growing talent pool. “It’s hard not to give it to him. I think he’s just everywhere. He has great hands, and he’s really guarding everybody.”

While Warriors forward Draymond Green publicly made his own case for Defensive Player of the Year recognition on Tuesday night, Daniels declined to advocate for himself in quite the same way when he was asked after the Hawks’ win over Charlotte about his chances for the award.

“Just having my name in that conversation is pretty special,” Daniels said, per Jerry Donatien of Clutch Points (Twitter video link). “I set myself a goal of being First Team All-Defense. Now the goal is Defensive Player of the Year. I don’t want to sit here and pump my tires too much in what I do — I’m just letting my game do the talking.”

Load More Posts