The Knicks didn’t lose much of their championship roster this offseason, but one of the clearest questions for next year sits with a player who never got back into the playoff mix: Mohamed Diawara.
New York brought back Jose Alvarado, Jordan Clarkson, Landry Shamet, and Diawara after its 2026 NBA Championship run, with all of them except Clarkson signing multi-year deals to remain in the Big Apple. Mitchell Robinson was the notable departure from the immediate aftermath of the title, but for the most part the Knicks kept their group intact.
That matters because the postseason rotation tightened fast. Across the Knicks’ four playoff series wins, Alvarado, Clarkson, and Shamet all had roles in Mike Brown’s plans. Alvarado and Diawara both logged regular-season minutes before being squeezed out once the playoffs arrived, though Alvarado got another shot after just one game and eventually came through with a pair of crucial performances against the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals.
Diawara never got that same look. The wing, who turned 21 in the middle of New York’s first-round series against the Atlanta Hawks, mostly appeared in blowouts.
There were enough of those on the road to a championship, but that kind of usage won’t be the goal going forward. For next season, the assignment is straightforward: do enough in the regular season to stay in the playoff rotation.
That would be a strong step for a player who already beat the expectations attached to him as a rookie. Diawara was taken 51st overall in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Knicks’ only pick, and he could have faded into the background as a late selection. Instead, he earned Brown’s trust and worked his way into the rotation.
He also flashed against quality opponents, including the Boston Celtics and San Antonio Spurs. Offensively, Diawara showed two traits that fit well with his frame: he knocked down 3s at a solid clip and moved the ball well for teammates. The defense, though, was less steady, and the physical part of the game still showed up around the rim.
Diawara made 49.1% of his attempts from within five feet, and according to Dunks & Threes, 97% of NBA players were more efficient from that range last season. That gap points to where the next jump has to come.
If he gets more reliable defensively and becomes a bigger threat inside the arc, Diawara could push himself into the wing group that already includes Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby - and technically both Josh Hart and Landry Shamet. For a Knicks team trying to defend a title, that kind of development would matter.
In Other News...
Knicks Fans Are Mourning A Former Lottery Pick From That 2003 Class
The news hit Knicks circles hard this week, with former first-round forward Michael Sweetney remembered as part of that 2003 draft class and as a player who spent his first two NBA seasons in New York. A ninth overall pick, Sweetney arrived with real expectations and gave the team a big-bodied presence before moving on to other stops in the league and later continuing his career internationally.
His wife, India Sweetney, announced his passing on Facebook and shared her grief and love for him, a painful reminder of how quickly an old roster thread can turn into something much more personal. For Knicks fans, it is another chance to look back on that era with a mix of nostalgia and sadness, especially when a player who once carried so much hope is suddenly gone far too soon. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks Have A Good Reason To Act Early On Miles McBride
Miles McBride has quietly become one of the Knicks most important holdovers, which says plenty about how the roster has changed around him. He is the longest-tenured player on the team now, and with his second contract winding down, the front office has a straightforward question to answer before the next wave of salary decisions hits. For a club that values continuity, defensive edge and reliable spacing around its core, McBride fits neatly into the kind of player New York tends to keep around.
There is also a basketball reason to think the Knicks may want to move early rather than let the situation linger. McBrides value as a 3-and-D guard meshes well with the way the roster is being built, especially with Karl-Anthony Towns operating as a playmaking center. The longer New York waits, the more complicated the decision could get, so this is the sort of extension call that could end up looking obvious in hindsight. [Read more 🡒]
Bruce Brown May Be Headed For A Tough Knicks Decision
Bruce Brown is trying to carve out a place with the Knicks after a steady season in Denver, where he played all 82 games and gave the Nuggets the kind of reliable minutes contenders value. New York brought him in on a non-guaranteed contract, which means nothing is settled yet, and his path forward will be measured against a crowded group of veterans all fighting for the same kind of opportunity.
The problem for Brown is that the Knicks most obvious roster need is in the middle, not on the wing, which makes the frontcourt additions around camp even more relevant. New York also added John Konchar, James Wiseman, Drew Eubanks and Ochai Agbaji on Exhibit 9 deals, giving the team several options to evaluate while Brown tries to show he belongs in a spot that does not line up neatly with what the roster is missing. [Read more 🡒]