G League Ignite guard Dyson Daniels is a name you'll want to get familiar with heading into the 2022 NBA Draft.
The Australian star guard is set to take his talents to the NBA after spending the last year competing with the G League development program.
Over 29 games between the G League Showcase and G League Ignite Tour, Daniels averaged 11.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 2.0 steals on .454/.300/.533 shooting splits.
MORE: Dyson Daniels' time is now: On fitting today's NBA mold and hopes of becoming a "Luka Doncic-type"
But what would Daniels bring to the NBA franchise that selects him?
Dyson Daniels scouting report: Strengths
As measured at the NBA Draft Combine, Daniels has grown to 6-8, 200 pounds with a reported 6-11 wingspan. The Aussie guard's size and length were already viewed as strengths, but as he continues to grow into his body, it will only better suit the 19-year-old's style of play.
His draft combine measurements and drill results almost mirrored those of 2021-22 NBA Rookie of the Year Scottie Barnes. Do I have your attention yet?
Daniels is a big guard whose passing, defense and rebounding set him apart as a prospect. His long wingspan makes him a suffocating defender who can comfortably guard multiple positions. Daniels is wiry and energetic on the defensive end, using his active hands and length to disrupt ball-handlers and fill passing lanes for deflections and steals.
Averaging nearly seven rebounds per game with the Ignite, Daniels loves to crash the glass and push the ball in transition to create fast break opportunities. He has a keen sense of knowing when to look ahead and find teammates running the lanes or when to get downhill and attack for himself.
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When the game slows down in the halfcourt, he's a fluid pick-and-roll ball-handler who can deliver a variety of passes off a live dribble. In 29 G League games this season, Daniels had 11 outings with at least five assists and tallied three games with double-digit assists.
It's in those pick-and-roll situations where you see the game really slow down for Daniels, who stays patient in order to find the right angles to make a pass or get to his trusty floater.
Daniels' floater is his most lethal weapon as a scorer, an already polished shot that is so effective in today's NBA. Daniels has the athleticism to get all the way to the rim, but he has no problem taking what the defense gives him if that means settling for a little midrange tear-dropper.
He's perfected the shot off spin moves with clean footwork...
and he can even let it fly from a deeper range than opponents expect.
Daniels will have to work on his jump shot consistency to elevate his game as a scorer, but his floater and budding athleticism should hold him over until he makes some mechanical adjustments.
Daniels is also an intriguing prospect because of his ability to make an impact with or without the ball in his hands. While he'll likely serve as a primary ball-handler at the next level, his activity as a cutter and offensive rebounder allows him to fit seamlessly with even the most ball-dominant guards.
Daniels boosted his draft stock during his one season with the G League Ignite — going from a mid-to-late first-rounder to a consensus lottery pick — and his ceiling is still rising. I could see the 19-year-old having a Josh Giddey-like jump on draft day, going much higher than most anticipate.
Dyson Daniels' weaknesses
As already mentioned, Daniels needs to improve his shooting touch, but that's something he is well aware of.
"That's my swing skill, being able to shoot the basketball," Daniels said in an interview with ESPN Australia's "The Jump." "I think my last nine games I shot it 45 percent, so I think for me it's just getting in the gym and getting reps up.
"I've always had the mechanics, it's just adjusting to the ball, adjusting to the NBA 3-point line. Once I got the hang of that, the stroke was feeling really good in the end."
Daniels shot 30.0 percent from beyond the arc during his one G League season, and he only converted 53.3 percent from the charity stripe. That could be a red flag for some teams considering free throw percentages are often used as an example of a player's potential as a shooter.
He's still a little stiff as a dribbler, and developing his handle would make up for what he lacks in change-of-pace shiftiness and burst. That would help Daniels improve as a shot creator, whereas right now, he does almost all of his damage on floaters, layups, dunks or cuts.
At 19 years old, Daniels is certainly a raw product in some aspects on the offensive end, but the foundation is in place for him to be a do-it-all, stat sheet stuffer at the next level.
Dyson Daniels' player comparisons
In the video above, I compared Daniels to Pacers rising star Tyrese Haliburton.
At the NBA Draft Combine, Daniels verified that comparison for himself offensively, while saying he watches players like Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso on the defensive end.
With his two-way motor, passing ability and penchant for scoring without the ball, Daniels can split the difference between rotation ready rookie and long-term development project. A prospect who can seamlessly fit in to any minor role asked of him, Daniels also possesses intriguing upside which makes him a tantalizing prospect...
...just like Haliburton.
There are no sure things in the NBA Draft, even for the consensus top three. But if you're looking for a potential star who projects at-worst as a valuable two-way role player, Daniels fits the bill.
