Dyson Daniels Seeking Massive Contract Upgrade In Extension Talks with the Hawks

Last season, Dyson Daniels took a major leap towards stardom in the NBA, with the Australian guard establishing himself as one of the best defensive players in the entire league. The former No. 8 overall pick was long overlooked, but in his third NBA season and first with the Hawks, he finished as the runner-up in Defensive Player of the Year voting and won the NBA's Most Improved Player award.

At 22 years of age, he's got an incredibly bright future ahead, and with the Hawks having a very talented core around him, they could be a dark horse in 2025–26. However, Daniels is not far from a payday, and according to a report from ESPN, he's seeking a massive upgrade.

That report has revealed that Daniels' agent is using Jalen Suggs' recent extension as a comparable, as the two players provide similar value on the floor, with the Australian guard looking for a five-year, $150 million deal. It's unclear at this point whether the Hawks are looking to extend Daniels, but after a breakout campaign in 2024–25 and a bright future ahead, it's easy to see why this deal makes sense for both parties.

While Daniels' scoring needs to improve (14 PPG in 2024–25), he's a well-rounded player who averages 3 steals per game and six boards, and if the Hawks want a franchise cornerstone, extending Daniels in the near future may be the way to get that done.