The NBA All-Star break could not be coming at a better time for some teams around the league. It will give players a chance to rest and relax, recharging their batteries for the stretch run of the marathon regular season.
On the other end of the spectrum, teams are playing some great basketball that wish they weren’t about to head into a week break. One of those teams is the New Orleans Pelicans, who have won six out of their last seven games.
However, they are going to have to adjust their rotation for the foreseeable future. That is because guard Dyson Daniels has been diagnosed with a torn meniscus and there is no timetable currently for his return to the field.
Part of the reason no timetable has been shared is that the team is still in the process of gathering information on how to move forward. Treatment options are being considered as they decide whether Dyson needs to undergo surgery or not.
The No. 8 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, Daniels has seen his role with the team grow in his second season. He is averaging 21.9 minutes per game, up from 17.7 as a rookie. His numbers have seen an uptick, as Willie Green likes the versatility that he brings to the court.
Standing 6’8”, Daniels is capable of playing either guard spot. He has given the team a few minutes on the wing as well, possessing the size and length to match up against a few forwards in certain games.
This is the second meniscus tear a player on the Pelicans has suffered this season. The first one was by Trey Murphy III before the NBA training camp opened in September. He was sidelined for about three months as his injury required arthroscopic surgery.
With 28 games remaining in the regular season, a three-month timetable would sideline Daniels through the remainder of the regular season. Unless the Pelicans make the postseason and go on a little bit of a run, Daniels’ 2023-24 season could be over.
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