Pacome Dadiet’s path into the Knicks’ rotation is getting narrow, and training camp has become the place where he has to force the issue.
That is the reality for a 21-year-old wing on a roster built to win now. Dadiet, the No. 25 pick in 2024, appeared in 29 regular-season games last year and averaged 4.7 minutes.
The raw ability has not been the question. The problem is the traffic in front of him, with OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, and Josh Hart already soaking up the wing minutes that matter.
There is still no need to stamp a verdict on Dadiet’s future. He is young, and the Knicks are deep enough that patience still exists.
But this is also a team that cannot afford to spend nightly minutes on growing pains. For Dadiet, that means camp is less about becoming a polished player and more about giving Mike Brown a reason to trust him when games get messy.
The checklist is straightforward. The defense has to hold up.
The open jumper has to show itself. And on a roster like this, young players do not get endless reps to sort out both at once.
That is why this stretch matters so much. A wing can look useful in short bursts and still never crack the regular group on a contender. Dadiet has to prove he is stronger, more decisive, and less of a target on defense than he looked in his limited action last season.
He still has a chance to win a role, but it has to come against a crowded field. A few encouraging preseason moments would help, though what happens in practice - especially on the defensive end - will matter even more.
The Knicks are chasing wins, not development for development’s sake. Dadiet has an opening to make himself part of the solution, and the window to show it is right there in front of him.
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With Andre Drummond now in the mix and wing depth still thin, the need for Diawara to handle both wing duties and some center rotation responsibilities is becoming harder to ignore. For a team trying to keep its lineup flexible while sorting through the rest of the roster, his progress may end up mattering more than expected over the course of the season. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks May Have To Cash In On Miles McBride Soon
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From there, the logic gets a little uncomfortable for the front office: if the Knicks believe his market is at a high point, moving him now could be the cleanest way to turn that value into help elsewhere, possibly in the form of a backup center or another player with longer team control. It is the kind of decision that can look prudent in October and very different by winter, but for now New York appears to be considering whether to cash in before the situation gets harder to manage. [Read more 🡒]