The Knicks are moving on from Pacome Dadiet’s fourth-year rookie-scale option, choosing not to pick up the $5,373,608 salary for 2027/28, sources told Shams Charania of ESPN. Fred Katz of The Athletic confirmed the report.
The decision is notable because it pushes Dadiet toward unrestricted free agency in 2027, but it also fits the path his NBA career has taken so far. The French wing has seen only limited action in the league, logging 48 combined appearances and averaging 1.6 points and 1.0 rebound in 5.2 minutes per game. His lone outing this season lasted just one minute.
Offense has been the biggest hurdle. In his NBA minutes, Dadiet has shot .329 from the field, .255 from three and .765 at the line. That has carried over to some degree in the G League as well, though he’s had more opportunity to produce there with the Westchester Knicks.
As a rookie with Westchester, Dadiet appeared in 23 games and played 31.8 minutes per night, putting up 13.9 points and 5.4 rebounds on .402/.296/.826 shooting. Last season, in 19 games with the affiliate, he took a bigger scoring leap, averaging 22.2 points and 4.7 rebounds in 34.6 minutes per game while shooting .450/.325/.708.
The playmaking numbers have been modest too. In 2025/26, Dadiet averaged 1.6 assists and 2.6 turnovers per game in the G League, after posting 2.4 assists and 2.0 turnovers per game in 2024/25.
There’s also a clear financial angle behind the Knicks’ choice. Dadiet is already on track to earn a guaranteed $2,983,680 in 2026/27, so passing on the option gives New York more room as it looks ahead to the summer of 2027.
That offseason includes a team option on Josh Hart and a $61MM player option for Karl-Anthony Towns. Miles McBride is also among the Knicks who are on pace for unrestricted free agency.
Bobby Marks of ESPN noted that if the options on Towns, Hart and Tyler Kolek are all exercised next season, New York would be about $14.7MM below the second tax apron in 2027/28 with nine players under contract.
Dadiet and the Knicks can still talk about a new deal when free agency arrives in 2027, Charania reported. But New York won’t be able to offer him a starting salary above the value of the option it declined. Given what he’s done so far, a $5.37MM starting salary looks like a steep ask for the 21-year-old.
Dadiet is the only player on the Knicks roster with a rookie scale team option for 2027/28.
In Other News...
Knicks Could Catch A Huge Break Against The 76ers
The Knicks may get a little help from the injury report before they even step on the floor Friday night. Philadelphia wing Jaylen Brown has been listed as questionable with left knee soreness, a development that could matter in a matchup between two teams already measuring every edge they can find. The game is set for 7:30 p.m. EST, and any absence from Brown would be his first of the season.
For New York, the timing adds another layer to a meeting that already carries a bit of weight. A player sitting out because of soreness is hardly a guarantee, but it is the kind of late-breaking wrinkle that can reshape how a game is approached on both sides. The Knicks will be watching closely as the status report develops, knowing a break like this can change the tone of an opponents rotation in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks Sent A Clear Rotation Message In Stunning Comeback Win
The comeback in Chicago did more than improve the Knicks record, it offered a quick look at how Mike Brown is willing to manage his new rotation. New York erased a 19-point hole and beat the Bulls 133-127, but the most eye-catching part of the win was Brown cutting into Mikal Bridges minutes while leaning on a bench group that brought energy, playmaking and shot-making when the game was slipping away.
Tyler Kolek, Jordan Clarkson and Landry Shamet combined for 41 points and 15 assists, a reminder that Brown is not afraid to search deeper into the roster when the situation calls for it. Jalen Brunson carried the offense with 38 points, and Karl-Anthony Towns added 19 points and 13 rebounds despite a brief injury scare, but the bigger question now is whether this kind of rotation flexibility is a one-night answer or a sign of how Brown sees the Knicks moving forward. [Read more 🡒]
Bulls Young Core Showed Real Progress In A Brutal Finish
The Bulls gave the Knicks a real test at the United Center, hanging around for much of a game that had the feel of an early-season measuring stick between two teams trying to sort out who they are. Chicagos young core brought energy and urgency, but the difference in the end came down to the Knicks looking steadier when the pressure rose, especially after a contest that stayed competitive deep into the fourth quarter.
Jalen Brunson did much of the finishing for New York, scoring 14 points in the final quarter and drilling three 3-pointers to help close the door on a 133-127 win. The Bulls had chances, but turnovers and inconsistent shooting kept them from fully cashing in on their effort, while the Knicks leaned on experience and timely shot-making to leave with a hard-earned victory. [Read more 🡒]