Dyson Daniels’ shooting problems have become a full-blown headache, but there’s a fresh Daniels name worth watching for Hawks fans: Dash Daniels.
Dash is starting to turn heads after a rough stretch last season with SE Melbourne Phoenix limited his momentum. He barely saw the floor a year ago, and that pushed him down draft boards after he’d once been viewed as a lottery-level 2026 NBA Draft prospect. Instead of jumping into that class, he chose to stay overseas and enter the 2027 NBA Draft.
That decision is looking a lot better now. Last week, Dash faced his former team and delivered 15 efficient points, knocking down three triples in a win. It was the kind of performance that nudges a prospect back into the conversation, especially for a team like Atlanta that already knows exactly what kind of player it would be getting.
The Hawks still have a real path to land him, too. Atlanta controls the worse of the Pelicans’ and Bucks’ first-round picks next season, with one important catch: if both of those picks land in the top four, New Orleans gets both. Outside of that unlikely scenario, the Hawks are positioned to pick somewhere around the mid lottery again, which is right in the range Dash could climb into if his sophomore season overseas keeps trending up.
Even if he doesn’t make a full lottery leap, Atlanta may not need much convincing. Pairing the Daniels brothers would make plenty of sense for a team trying to build a defensive force, and Dash would fit right into that vision.
In Other News...
Hawks Roster Crunch Is About To Force A Tough Decision
Atlantas roster count has crept into an uncomfortable place, with 17 players on the books and the regular-season limit sitting at 15. That leaves the Hawks needing to clear room before the season gets underway, and the timing matters even more because the NBAs waive-and-stretch deadline is here, which sharply narrows the teams options for trimming down without simply cutting a player outright.
The front office could still explore a few different paths, including using a trade to move one of the extra pieces and lessen the squeeze. Devin Carter and Ryan Nembhard are among the names that could come up in those discussions, while other roster maneuvers remain on the table as Atlanta weighs how aggressive it wants to be. Nothing is locked in yet, but the clock is now forcing the kind of decision teams prefer to avoid until the last possible moment. [Read more 🡒]
Jonathan Kuminga Could Become A Painful Hawks What-If Fast
Jonathan Kumingas next stop has the feel of one of those moves that can linger around a team long after the paperwork is done. His blend of size, burst and versatility makes him the kind of young frontcourt piece clubs spend years trying to find, and the fit now being discussed puts him in a situation where the surroundings could help unlock more of that talent.
For Atlanta, the uneasy part is what comes next. Losing a player with Kumingas tools always invites second-guessing, especially for a team trying to build out its young frontcourt and sort through which pieces can grow together. If he settles in quickly elsewhere, the Hawks may be left wondering how much value they gave up and how expensive that kind of athletic upside can become. [Read more 🡒]
Hawks Frontcourt Shakeup Opens A Bigger Role For An Unexpected Rookie
The Hawks have spent the summer reshaping the front line in a way that could create an unexpected opening for a rookie who was not supposed to be central to the conversation this soon. Jonathan Kuminga is headed to the Minnesota Timberwolves in a sign-and-trade, and Atlantas own deal sending Zaccharie Risacher for Luguentz Dort has only added to the sense that the frontcourt rotation is in flux as the roster gets reworked around new pieces.
Zuby Ejiofor is the name to watch now, especially if Atlanta has to absorb more wear and tear up front. With the Hawks already carrying a thinner group in the paint and a few injury concerns still hanging over the roster, the rookie could find himself pushed into meaningful minutes faster than expected. For a team trying to hold the line while the roster settles, that makes Ejiofor an intriguing part of the equation. [Read more 🡒]