Keegan Murray of the Sacramento Kings just got a huge pay day, receiving a five-year, $140 million contract extension after completing a deal that critics say is a win-win deal for both sides. How much will Atlanta Hawks’ Dyson Daniels receive? Especially with the fact that he bagged three individual awards last season while Murray has none?
Murray and Daniels are batchmates in the 2022 draft and while the former’s rookie contract year has been smoothed out early, the latter’s fate remains untouched. Other players from 2022 that got paid already are Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams of the defending champions Oklahoma City Thunder and Jabari Smith of the Houston Rockets.
Dyson’s camp, however, is not looking at Murray or any of the 2022 batchmates for his extension. It’s another player from 2021. He is seeking a larger bag, as large as the one that Orlando Magic’s Jalen Suggs received last year.
“His agent, Daniel Moldovan, is using the five-year, $150 million extension Jalen Suggs signed last year as the comparison for Daniels, while also assessing Trae Young’s uncertain future in Atlanta,” ESPN’s Bobby Marks wrote.
“Daniels was named first-team All-Defense, finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting and increased his offensive production from 5.8 to 14.1 points.”
Dyson Daniels, Hawks negotiations
Daniels has proven himself that he deserves an extension. The question will be how much.
The Hawks are in a tight spot right now as they also have to deal with the contract extension that star Trae Young should get. New York Times’ Fred Katz said it might not happen before the start of the season.
“After renovating its roster this summer, Atlanta is waiting to evaluate how a new group meshes together,” Katz wrote.
They also recently paid fifth year forward Jalen Johnson $150 million for five years. For Daniels, nothing is set in stone yet despite his stellar 2025 showing. Money will be the main issue.
“If last year’s negotiations with Johnson are a guide — where the two sides haggled over it and then got a deal done right before the deadline — then this one probably will go right up to Monday’s deadline,” NBA insider Tim Bontemps said.
“The guess here is something gets done, but landing on a number both sides agree on could be difficult.
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