As the NBA trade deadline creeps closer, the New York Knicks find themselves in a familiar spot - on the edge of making a move, but with more questions than answers. One thing, however, is becoming increasingly clear: if and when the Knicks do pull the trigger on a deal, Pacome Dadiet is the likeliest name to be on the outbound ticket.
Tyler Kolek’s Rise Has Changed the Equation
Coming into the season, there was some debate about which fringe player might be the odd man out. Both Tyler Kolek and Pacome Dadiet were considered potential trade candidates, but Kolek’s rapid development has changed the math.
Kolek has carved out a niche as a reliable secondary ball-handler - something the Knicks sorely needed. His feel for the game, pace control, and decision-making have made him too valuable to simply toss into a trade package. That’s not just about potential anymore; it's about fit and functionality in a rotation that’s trying to win now.
Dadiet, meanwhile, hasn’t been able to crack the rotation consistently. Despite some eye-catching moments during the G-League Showcase, he’s still behind Mohamed Diawara on the wing depth chart. And while that Showcase performance may have boosted his trade value a bit, it hasn’t been enough to earn him real minutes in New York.
Other Trade Chips? Not So Simple
Now, the Knicks do have a few other names floating around the rumor mill, but each comes with its own complications.
Guerschon Yabusele is a name that fans - and maybe even head coach Mike Brown - wouldn’t mind seeing moved. But the problem is his contract.
He holds a player option for next season, and moving him would likely require the Knicks to attach some kind of sweetener to make the deal palatable. Given how few trade assets the team has to work with, that’s not a move you make unless the return is undeniable.
Landry Shamet is another possibility, especially since his minimum salary makes him easy to move. But before his shoulder injury, he was playing at a high level, offering real value on the floor.
The Knicks also hold his Early Bird rights, which could be key this summer as the cap crunch tightens. Letting him go now - especially for nothing - would be a tough call.
Jordan Clarkson? Sure, he’s in the mix.
His play has been inconsistent, and with Kolek stepping up and the Knicks reportedly eyeing other guards, Clarkson’s role is definitely in flux. But again, his minimum deal limits the kind of return you can expect.
Unless Shamet returns healthy or the Knicks bring in another scoring guard, Clarkson’s ability to generate offense off the bench still holds some value.
So when you start crossing names off the list, the options dwindle fast.
Core Players Aren’t Going Anywhere
Let’s be honest: Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Hart, Mitchell Robinson, and Deuce McBride aren’t going anywhere unless the Knicks are making a blockbuster move - and no, there’s no sign of a Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes heating up anytime soon.
These are the guys you build around, not dangle in trade talks.
Dadiet Makes the Most Sense - Financially and Logistically
So we circle back to Pacome Dadiet. He checks the boxes for a moveable piece: young (just 20 years old), cheap (a little over $2.8 million this season), and under team control for two more years on a rookie-scale deal.
For a rebuilding team looking to take a flyer on upside, that’s a worthwhile gamble. And for the Knicks, it’s an easy way to clear salary without taking money back.
Why does that matter? Because New York is currently operating so close to the second apron that they can’t even sign another pro-rated minimum deal until April. Trading Dadiet would open up enough space to bring in not one, but two veterans to bolster the depth for a playoff push.
Even if they don’t offload him solo, his contract could be the sweetener in a bigger deal - perhaps to help move Yabusele’s money or to land a more impactful rotation player. There’s always risk in selling low on a young player, but Kolek’s emergence has made Dadiet expendable in a way he wasn’t just a couple months ago.
The Bottom Line
The Knicks don’t have a surplus of tradeable assets, and they’re not in a position to move core pieces unless a star-level opportunity presents itself. That narrows the field significantly. Unless something dramatic changes between now and the February 5 deadline, Pacome Dadiet looks like the odd man out - not because he’s failed, but because the Knicks’ needs, cap situation, and internal development have pushed him to the edge of the roster.
It’s not a flashy move. But it’s a functional one. And for a team trying to balance winning now with financial flexibility, that might be just what the front office is looking for.