Pacome Dadiet’s time in Summer League could end up mattering far beyond Las Vegas.
The Knicks are still hunting for ways to upgrade the main roster as they try to defend a title, and the frontcourt has been the area drawing the most trade chatter in recent weeks. New York has run into resistance so far, which makes any moveable piece on the roster worth a closer look.
Dadiet may be the cleanest path to creating that kind of flexibility. He played just under five minutes per game last season, so his value around the league isn’t exactly soaring. That makes him tough to move unless the Knicks are willing to attach draft capital or get a real asset back in return.
Still, Summer League gives him a chance to change the conversation. Dadiet enters as a third-year pro facing a field full of players who are either brand new to the league or trying to get back in, and that experience edge should work in his favor. He also comes off a G League stretch where he averaged a staggering 23.1 points per game across 15 games for the Knicks’ affiliate this past season.
If he produces in Vegas, he could start showing up on more radars. Executives from every franchise will be there scouting their own young players and keeping tabs on talent from other teams, too. A strong run would give Dadiet a chance to look less like a throw-in and more like a useful piece.
That matters for New York because he’s the player the team has the most reason to move. His $2.98 million contract for next season gives the Knicks a workable salary slot, and he doesn’t appear to fit as cleanly as some of the other young players on the roster. He could be used on his own or packaged with someone like Miles McBride to chase a more premium backup center, which is the most realistic route to a meaningful frontcourt addition while the team works around the second apron.
There also doesn’t seem to be much appetite for keeping Dadiet in a long-term development lane. Mohamed Diawara and Tyler Kolek appear more important to the Knicks’ future, and with the organization clearly committed to the veteran approach, carrying two developmental projects already feels like enough. Dadiet, as the extra piece, could become the one used to bring back something more proven.
But none of that works if he doesn’t perform in Summer League. Right now, he doesn’t have much on his NBA résumé to make another team eager to help New York. Even if the Knicks were to include multiple second-rounders, there’s no guarantee a rival would want to take him back in a deal or part with an impactful center.
If Dadiet breaks out in Las Vegas, though, the equation changes. A hot Summer League could give him real trade value and make a swap look worthwhile to another team. For the Knicks, that would open the door to a better chance at landing the kind of frontcourt help they’ve been chasing.
There should be plenty of chances for Dadiet to make that case over the next few days. For New York, his performance could be about more than Summer League numbers - it could shape the team’s next move.
In Other News...
Knicks Title Defense Looks Safer With One East Rival Fading
The Knicks entered the summer with a title in hand and the kind of target on their backs that comes with it, but one potential roadblock in the East looks a little less imposing than it did a year ago. Detroit still has Cade Cunningham, and that alone keeps the Pistons relevant, yet their early playoff exit and busy offseason reshuffle have left them looking more like a team trying to find its next step than one ready to challenge the champs.
For New York, the bigger picture is that the conference still figures to be crowded with threats. Miami, Philadelphia, Boston, Indiana, Cleveland and Toronto all have reasons to believe they can be better, which means the Knicks will not get a free pass just because one rival is fading. Even so, Detroits current path feels harder to sell as a true title threat, and in an East where scoring depth and roster balance matter more than ever, that matters for the Knicks margin for error. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks Summer League Just Got Tougher For Young Guards Trying To Stick
A late roster addition has changed the feel of the Knicks Summer League backcourt before the games even start. Jack Kayil received permission from his European club to join New Yorks summer roster after the initial group had already been announced, and his arrival gives the Knicks another guard to sort through as they evaluate younger talent in Las Vegas.
For players like Jaden Akins, Keith Palek III and Treysen Eaglestaff, that means the margin for minutes just got thinner. Summer League is always a proving ground, but T.J. Saint may lean heavily on Kayil and a few other priority pieces, leaving the rest of the guard group fighting for every chance to show they belong. [Read more 🡒]