The Knicks’ offseason coaching loss could wind up creating a trade lane they didn’t have before.
Jordan Brink left Mike Brown’s staff to join Thiago Splitter in Chicago, and New York is going to feel that departure on the bench. Brink had value there, especially when it came to pushing back on foul calls. But his move to the Bulls comes with a wrinkle that could matter later: he’s not only an assistant in Chicago, he’s also the team’s new director of player development.
That matters because Brink now has a role that could give him some influence over which young players Chicago develops and potentially adds. For the Knicks, that opens the door to a deal built around one of their younger pieces, with Brink’s familiarity making the Bulls a logical place to look.
The cleanest outcome for New York would still be landing a reliable third center. That possibility is starting to look like a long shot as summer winds down, which leaves the Knicks with fewer attractive paths and more reason to consider alternatives that help the roster now.
Chicago doesn’t have an obvious big man for Leon Rose to chase, but it does have the kind of cap flexibility that can absorb money from another team. That puts Pacôme Dadiet and Tyler Kolek in the mix as possible Knicks pieces to move.
Both would fit a Bulls team leaning into youth during another rebuild. Dadiet offers wing size and offensive upside, the sort of profile Chicago has been hunting this offseason. Kolek could be viewed as a long-term backup point guard, especially with Tre Jones playing his way toward a much larger payday and Rob Dillingham sitting behind him on an expiring deal.
Brink’s ties to both players only make the connection more interesting. He worked closely with Dadiet and Kolek in New York through player development, and he coached the Knicks’ 2025 Summer League team to a title with both players on the roster. The Athletic’s James Edwards III also reported that Brink made it a point to help Dadiet grow as an attacker in Las Vegas, a sign of the relationship between them.
"I think they really do need to prioritize player development."🗣️ @Will_Gottlieb on the Bulls hiring Jordan Brink and building their development staff pic.twitter.com/XNESJIh8Cu
There’s a case for New York to explore a split with either player, too. Moving Dadiet would clear his fully guaranteed $2.98 million salary for 2026-27, open a roster spot, and create more money for a player who could help more immediately than the struggling young wing has so far.
Kolek is cheaper in overall terms, at about $4.8 million over the next two years combined, and he’s more established as a reserve. Even so, he may not be essential with Jose Alvarado locked in for three more seasons now.
The bigger issue for the Knicks is flexibility. Right now, they can only afford one more roster spot for the entire season if they want to stay under the second apron. That leaves them boxed in unless they move someone they can afford to lose.
They also still need another center, but there’s another decision hanging over the roster: whether to lock up rookie Tyler Nickel on a long-term standard contract after he flashed enough potential to look like a possible steal. Under the current setup, Rose can only do one of those things.
That’s why Chicago suddenly looks like a partner worth watching. The Bulls can take on Dadiet or Kolek without much trouble, and a second-rounder might be enough to get their attention. There’s even a path where Chicago sends a second back to see what Kolek can do in a bigger role.
If the Knicks were to move Kolek without bringing back a center, that would sting. Still, it could also give them more room to maneuver this season, and that alone makes it a possibility Rose has to weigh carefully.
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