The end of the Trae Young saga was supposed to lead to a firm turn to a developmental path where wins could take a backseat. The Atlanta Hawks were losing their franchise cornerstone who was, for all intents and purposes, the fulcrum of their offense. But it seems like things are going better than expected. 

Currently, the Hawks are on a three-game winning streak, with all three being double-digit victories. The emergence of Jalen Johnson has been a big reason for that and his all-around efforts, but another player has risen to the occasion and helped give Atlanta a shot in the arm. 

Dyson Daniels is known more as a fantasy stud, but he is emerging as a two-way force for the Hawks. His exploits on the defensive end are well documented, but many have begun to take notice of his growing offensive game and playmaking abilities. All of it became more evident once Young was on the sidelines.   

Since Young sat out on December 29, 2025, Daniels has averaged 13.4 points (on 54.5 percent shooting from the field), 7.1 rebounds, 8.3 assists, 1.8 steals, and a block in almost 35 minutes of play each game. The ability to do a bit of everything has made it really difficult for Atlanta head coach Quin Snyder to keep him off the floor. However, efficiency remains an issue for Daniels, whose offensive prowess doesn’t extend beyond the paint. But even with that, he remains more valuable on the court than on the sidelines. 

Nonetheless, Daniels’ development was one of the reasons the Hawks were comfortable with moving on from Young. Daniels can be the primary playmaker as new arrivals CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert ease themselves into a new environment. McCollum, in particular, can focus on scoring and worry less about being constantly targeted on defense. Moreover, Daniels is not one to command a ton of touches (10.5 field goal attempts per game) so the ball will be able to move freely with him at the helm. 

As it stands, Atlanta is likely to build around Johnson with the likes of Daniels, last year’s first overall pick Zaccharie Risacher, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Onyeka Okongwu. They’re building an athletic group that puts emphasis on defense and versatility. This should help the Hawks avoid the Play-In Tournament. Only 2.5 games separate them and the sixth place Orlando Magic and with half of the season still left to be played, the chance is there for the taking. 

Going forward, Dyson Daniels will figure heavily in the Atlanta Hawks’ postseason fate. Yes, Jalen Johnson is now the face of the franchise, but Daniels will be the engine that will allow Johnson and the rest of the Hawks to thrive. And when push comes to shove on the defensive end, he’s the tip of the spear that will lead them past their rivals.