Daniels voted best defender amid contract talks

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NBA general managers have voted Australian guard Dyson Daniels the best perimeter defender heading into the 2025-26 season and into his contract extension negotiations.

Daniels, 22, earned almost one third of the votes in the anonymous NBA poll. It will only bolster his contract talks ahead of becoming a restricted free agent in 2026.

Who is the best perimeter defender in the NBA?

1. ‍Dyson Daniels, Atlanta – 31%‍
2. Alex Caruso, Oklahoma City – 24%
3. Amen Thompson, Houston – 22%
4. Lu Dort, Oklahoma City – 14%
5. Jrue Holiday, Portland – 7%
6. Ausar Thompson, Detroit – 2%
   » Last year: Jrue Holiday – 43%

Daniels, born in Bendigo, had what can only be described as a breakout season for the Atlanta Hawks, traded by the New Orleans Pelicans after his second season.

He is a restricted free agent in 2026.

Contract Recap

• Status: Daniels is eligible for rookie-scale extension in 2026 offseason
• Cap projection (2026-27): USD ~$166M
• Atlanta holds: Full Bird Rights, which means they can offer 8% annual raises, up to 5 years

Daniels has a decision to make: Lock in a four-year extension (no option); negotiation a three-year plus one-year player option or wait until he becomes a restricted free agent.

If Daniels improves his scoring output without any improvement on the defensive side of the ball he moves into the USD $30M per season salary range.

This is what it means from a contract perspective:

Four-Year Deal (Team Stability, No Option with 8% raises)

1. 2026-27: $30M
2. 2027-28: $32.4M
3. 2028-29: $35M
4. 2029-30: $37.8 M
   Total: $135.2M / 4 yrs

• Contract ages: 22 to 26
• Free agent again: Summer 2030 (Age 26)

The good and the bad of this deal for Daniels and the Hawks

• Security: Four guaranteed years, ~$135M locked in before age 23.
• Team control: Atlanta keeps him heading into his physical prime.
• Trade value: Predictable, descending cap share as cap rises.
• No injury risk from short-term gambles.‍
• No early opt-out if Daniels outperforms expectations.
• By 2029–30 the contract could look under-market (cap could reach $200M+).
• Daniels misses one opportunity to renegotiate upward mid-prime.

Three Years + Player Option (Flexibility, 8% raises)

1. 2026-27: $30.0M
2. 2027-28: $32.4M
3. 2028-29: $35.0M
4. 2029-30: Player Option – $37.8 M
   Total (if exercised) $135.2 M / 4 yrs
   Total (if declined) $97.4 M / 3 yrs

• Contract ages: 22 to 25 (option year 26)
  Free agent again: Summer 2029 (Age 25, if option declined)

The good and the bad of this deal for Daniels and the Hawks

• Flexibility: Daniels can re-enter market one year earlier (age 25) if his value explodes.
• Upside capture: Lets him leverage a higher cap or All-Defense/All-NBA résumé into $40M+
• Growth incentive: Signals confidence in continued ascent.
• Risk: Less guaranteed money (~$97M vs $135M locked in).
• Team concern: Atlanta loses long-term control; may need to renegotiate after Year 3.
• Cap planning: Harder for front office to align future salary commitments.

The best outcome for the Hawks is a four-year deal without a player option with the hope his deal is under market value by the time it ends.

The best outcome for Daniels is a three-year deal with a one-year player option.

Now that he has been voted as the best perimeter defender in the NBA his bargaining position is only getting stronger.