Hawks' newest addition Dyson Daniels will thrive in Atlanta

After months of trade speculation, the Hawks have finally parted ways with Dejounte Murray. The two-way ball-handler is heading to the Pelicans, with Dyson Daniels headlining the talent acquired by Atlanta. Daniels is a former top-10 pick and is still just 21 years old.

By adding Daniels, the Hawks are vastly improving their point-of-attack defense. His limited shooting and scoring ability make him a better fit than Murray, who demanded touches to be effective. Daniels will likely be tasked with focusing on the defensive end. He can switch actions to protect Trae Young, a questionable defender at times.

"Daniels has two years left on a rookie deal that will pay him $6.1 million this year and $7.7 million next year," The Athletic's John Hollinger wrote about the trade. "He struggles shooting and didn’t really fit in New Orleans because they had so many other suspect marksmen, but in Atlanta, he becomes a vital piece who may start to offset noted matador Young."

Atlanta is slowly putting pieces around Young that complement him. The focus is clearly on improving its defense, which has been putrid in recent years, ranking 27th in the NBA last season. Daniels will thrive as the core perimeter defender. He is also young enough to continue improving for five or six years.

The Hawks hope forward Jalen Johnson can develop into Young's star running mate. His presence on the wing has improved Atlanta on both sides of the ball and should ensure that the All-Star guard isn't forced to try and create all of his team's offense on his own. Heliocentric basketball isn't how a team wins a championship.

Young now has a team that can accentuate his skillset . He must take advantage and begin to prove his leadership credentials. Getting Daniels in return for Murray was a masterstroke. Now, he will have the opportunity to continue his development with high minutes within a starting lineup.

The Hawks are unlikely to be contenders soon, but at least they're making moves to position themselves for internal growth.