With multiple picks in the mid-first round of the 2022 NBA Draft, the Charlotte Hornets will be looking to add some young talent to their core. Dyson Daniels is one of the most intriguing prospects in the draft and could fall to Charlotte at 13th.
Awards and Accolades:
During Daniels’ lone season with the G-League Ignite, he averaged 11.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 4.4 assists on 45% FG / 73.7% FT / 25.5% 3PT. Daniels is the first player to ever sign with the G-League Ignite from outside of the United States high school system. He is also a product of the NBA Global Academy, a high-level basketball facility located in Australia.
Daniels had plenty of success during his international competitions with Australia. In the 2021 FIBA World Cup (U19), Daniels averaged 14.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.6 assists. Daniels was also the MVP of the Waratah League, a professional league also known as the NBL1 East, and was named Youth Player of the Year. He has the accolades and skill set that should translate to success in the NBA.
Strengths:
Offensively, Daniels is a cerebral playmaker who has a high basketball IQ and feel for the game. He reads the floor well both in the open floor and in the pick-and-roll. He is also looking to push the ball ahead in transition or make the extra pass. Daniels finished with a 1.8 assist-to-turnover ratio in his lone season with the G-League Ignite. That ratio also ranked in the 78th percentile, according to Synergy Sports.
From a scoring perspective, Daniels is a very good finisher in transition and is a line-driver in the half-court. He can finish with either hand, and he has an excellent floater that he can use if he cannot get all the way to the rim. Daniels is comfortable playing off the ball as a cutter and can catch lobs or catch and finish at the rim in cutting scenarios. Daniels is very comfortable in the post for a guard. He takes advantage of mismatches with his size and length and has great touch over his left shoulder.
Daniels has a high defensive ceiling. He can switch between point guards, shooting guards, and small forwards, and will be able to guard small-ball power forwards as well. He has great length and does a great job of walling off his opposition and containing the basketball. He possesses decent verticality and can contest opposing shots at the rim. He ranked in the 86th percentile in overall defense in the G-League, according to Synergy Sports. He also averaged 2.1 steals per game and 0.7 blocks per game this past season.
Weaknesses:
Offensively, Daniels can still grow as a shot creator and a ball handler. He is pretty good at both but lacks elite counter dribble moves or advanced dribble packages to create space. In terms of shot creation, he lacks a mid-range game and does not have step-backs or side steps to use at either the three-point line or mid-range. Advancing his arsenal will come a long way not only in terms of shot creation but also in becoming more difficult to contain off the dribble. This will also lead to more shot opportunities for his teammates where he has proven he is more than capable of finding the open man when the defense breaks down.
There are questions about Daniels’ jump shot. However, he has great mechanics, and his shot can evolve with constant repetition and coaching at the next level. Daniels shot just 25.5% from three-point range this past season. However, he did shoot 45% from three-point range in his last 9 games, so only time will tell which number will hold true.
Fit with the Hornets and Overall Assessment:
Daniels would be a huge help to the Hornets in the backcourt due to his defensive versatility and additional playmaking. Charlotte desperately needs perimeter defenders and Daniels is one of the best in the draft. The fit of Daniels in Charlotte is ideal and would benefit Charlotte on both sides of the ball. In terms of his overall assessment, Daniels is a top-eight talent in this draft due to his combination of upside, feel for the game, defensive versatility, and budding skill set offensively.
Projection:
The issue with Daniels is that he is projected anywhere from the top eight to the late lottery. Daniels may not be available by the time the Hornets are on the clock, but if he is still on the board, he would be a steal.