## 8. [Dyson Daniels](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4869342/dyson-daniels), hoops nerd catnip
With all the hubbub about the [New Orleans Pelicans](https://www.espn.com/nba/team/_/name/no/new-orleans-pelicans) owning the rights to the [Los Angeles Lakers](https://www.espn.com/nba/team/_/name/lal/los-angeles-lakers)’ pick in the Wembanyama draft, you almost forget the [Anthony Davis](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/6583/anthony-davis) trade has already brought New Orleans (directly or indirectly): [Brandon Ingram](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3913176/brandon-ingram), [Jonas Valanciunas](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/6477/jonas-valanciunas), [CJ McCollum](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/2490149/cj-mccollum), Devonte’ Graham, [Jaxson Hayes](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4397077/jaxson-hayes), [Herbert Jones](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4277813/herbert-jones), [Larry Nance Jr.](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/2580365/larry-nance-jr), and now Daniels’ precocious all-around game. (It could have been even more! Graham has turned into a bit of a whiff, though he came in the same three-team deal that brought Valanciunas — and [Lonzo Ball](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4066421/lonzo-ball), the player Graham essentially replaced, remains out because of knee issues. The Pelicans also got the No. 4 pick in 2019 — Hunter — but flipped him for Hayes and [Nickeil Alexander-Walker](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4278039/nickeil-alexander-walker) on draft night.)
Daniels was already staking his claim to a rotation spot before sniffing a triple-double with a 14-point, 9-assist, 8-rebound gem against the [Toronto Raptors](https://www.espn.com/nba/team/_/name/tor/toronto-raptors) on Wednesday.
Daniels oozes basketball IQ. He cuts and dishes like a crafty veteran, touching snappy extra passes ahead of the defense. He is the (*very*) rare rookie you can spot directing teammates on defense, calling out rotations and impromptu strategic shifts. At 6-8, Daniels can switch across four positions — though he’ll need to bulk up to take on the league’s nastier power forwards. Within a five-second span, Daniels can contain a speedy guard and offer legit rim protection:
He’s 9-of-19 on 3s. You can’t glean anything from 19 attempts, but Daniels has major two-way potential if he becomes reliable on catch-and-shoot looks. (He was 13-of-51 from deep in the G League last year.)
The Pelicans are 13-8 with the West’s second-best point differential. They’re getting a bit lucky with cold opponent 3-point shooting, but given how many games their best players have missed it’s clear this is a good team at minimum. Executives from other West playoff hopefuls often whisper about their fear of two rivals cashing in their chips in a win-now move: New Orleans and the [Memphis Grizzlies](https://www.espn.com/nba/team/_/name/mem/memphis-grizzlies).
Regardless, the future is bright in New Orleans.
by kingralek
