6
Oct
Free Agency
Hawks and Daniels apart in early contract talks
Dyson Daniels #5 of the Atlanta Hawks poses for a portrait during media day at PC&E Atlanta on September 29, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. hoto by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images.
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Dyson Daniels’ extension talks with the Hawks remain apart, with the October 20 deadline looming.
- Daniels’ breakout season has positioned him among the most valuable young guards in the NBA.
- Restricted free agency looms if extension talks fail before the October 20 deadline.
- $30 million per year is a the mooted figure he could reach if he enters the open market
Contract extension talks between the Atlanta Hawks and Australian guard Dyson Daniels have begun, with the two sides still some distance apart, Jake Fischer reports.
Atlanta, who already has Daniels under contract for this season, could see the 2025 Most Improved Player enter restricted free agency if they are unable to come to an agreement. Restricted free agency allows teams to match any offer received from other teams, which is similar to the drawn-out contract negotiations Josh Giddey had with the Chicago Bulls before ultimately agreeing to a four-year, $100 million contract.
The 22-year-old could become one of the most wanted restricted free agents in the 2026 off-season if talks don't progress before the October 20th deadline.
Daniels had a breakout season last season, winning the NBA's Most Improved Player award after averaging 14.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 3.0 steals.
NBA insider Fischer reports Daniels could attract offers of about USD $30 million per season if multiple teams went after him as a restricted free agent.
Several teams are projected to have significant cap space in 2026, including the Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls, Detroit Pistons, LA Clippers, LA Lakers, Portland Trail Blazers, Utah Jazz and Washington Wizards.
Restricted versus unrestricted free agency
A restricted free agent (RFA) is one whose prior team has the “right to match” any offer sheet from another team, within certain rules.
If the team matches, the player stays; if not, the player goes.
If Dyson Daniels is an RFA in 2026, the Hawks will have that matching right.
Daniels qualifying offer (about USD $10,389,992) sets a floor (and also generates a cap‐hold).
Daniels qualifies for Bird rights, which allows the Hawks to exceed the cap to re-sign its own free agents under certain conditions.
If the Australian Boomers starter turns in another season like he did in 2024-25, leading the league in steals, there is little doubt he will attract interest in 2026 given more teams will have the cap space (on paper) to pursue him.
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