If the start of the "Not on Herb" didn't already make it clear, the current version of the New Orleans Pelicans is big on defense -- and that's where Dyson Daniels will fit in seamlessly on Day 1.
And we know this, because the 19-year-old made sure to bring it up early and often in his draft-day interview. Well, that, and the trash-talk he likes to toss at opponents while he's doing it.
“[Defense] is a big priority. It’s one of my main strengths," Daniels said. "If my offense isn’t going well, I can stay on the floor with my defense. Because I’m able to disrupt people. … I feel like I definitely take a lot of pride on that end. I love to defend. I love the trash-talk that comes with it.”
If that sounds familiar, it's because it was this time last year that the Pelicans selected Herb Jones, a player who made himself indispensable with the same traits Daniels is describing. Any offense generated by the former SEC defensive player of the year was gravy. And with Daniels alongside Jones and Trey Murphy III, the Pelicans have an array of young, feisty, switchy wings.
For a team that long struggled with perimeter defense, the Australian Daniels who spent last season playing with the G-League Ignite represents a vision of the future of New Orleans basketball.
"I love to defend. I love to playmake for my teammates," he said. "Best of all I’m a winner, so I do what it takes to win and I think that’s something that the Pels are doing now, is winning games. I think I can step on the floor straight away and contribute."
Related
━━
MORE FROM DYSON DANIELS
ON THE TRASH TALK
New Orleans has never been a city to shy away from speaking its mind, or having its players do the same. Daniels sounds like he'll fit right in, and he'll do it with an Australian accent.
“I like to throw a few sneaky words in here and there. You might not hear them, but I do love to trash talk. I think it’s part of the game, it’s a fun part of the game. It’s just good to get under someone’s skin sometimes.”
━━
ON EARNING HIS SPOT ON A CROWDED PELICANS ROSTER
New Orleans had 14 players under contract heading into draft night, and barring trades, there will be steep traffic for regular minutes ahead of Daniels. But that's just fine for the 19-year-old who says his game is rapidly improving. The 6-8 forward has a 6-11 wingspan and is ready to battle for minutes.
“In any NBA team you go to you’ve got earn your spot no matter what. They have a great team here. They’ve got scorers. They’ve got Zion coming back. I feel like I could fit in so many different roles … and my game is rapidly improving.”
Related
━━
ON GETTING THE CALL FROM THE PELICANS
“As soon as my agent passed me the phone my heart started beating and I was just super happy to get that phone call telling me I was going to be a Pelican. Once I heard my name called my heart dropped. It was a dream come true. I’ve dreamt of this as long as I can remember. So to finally be here, it’s taken a lot of hard work. But I’m just blessed to be able to get this opportunity.”
━━
WHAT HE KNOWS ABOUT THE PELS' ROSTER
“I’m very familiar with the players. I study the game a lot. I was watching them this year in the playoffs. Just to see them make their run, I was going for them, I was hoping they'd get over the line. Just to see the strides they made last year in the playoffs and the great players they had I’ll be able to learn off of. I just think the Pelicans are a great organization. They’ve got great players and they’re going in the right direction.”