Mohamed Diawara, drafted 51st in 2024 and traded to the Knicks, faces uncertain NBA prospects amid strong competition. His agent confirms a return to Cholet is likely if no contract emerges after Summer League.
Selected 51st overall in the 2024 NBA Draft, Mohamed Diawara (2.04 m, 20 years old) has become the 8th player in Cholet Basket history to be drafted by an NBA franchise. However, his immediate future remains uncertain.
Points this season
New York Knicks
NBA
While awaiting the NBA Summer League, his agent has clearly left the door open for another season in Betclic ELITE with Cholet.
It was a long night for Diawara, who followed the draft from a Paris hotel rather than in person in Brooklyn. In the early hours of Friday, June 27, he was selected by the Los Angeles Clippers before his rights were traded to the New York Knicks.
"You have to realize that we're talking about a player who wasn't even in the top 100," his agent Olivier Mazet told Ouest-France. To earn his draft spot, the former Paris Basketball forward completed 11 workouts with different NBA franchises in just 20 days—an intense schedule that ultimately persuaded New York to take a chance on him.
Tough competition in New York
Landing with the Knicks, however, brings its own challenges. Fresh off a Conference Semifinal appearance, New York boasts a deep roster—especially at the forward spots where Diawara operates. Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, OG Anunoby, and even his former Paris and Charenton teammate Pacome Dadiet (2.03 m, 19 years old) are already entrenched at the 3-4 positions.
That congestion fuels speculation of a potential Draft-and-Stash plan.
That option is not being ruled out by Diawara’s camp. "They asked him to come to New York on Monday (June 30) to train with the Summer League squad. This will be a first stopover," Mazet revealed.
But if no contract materializes, a return to France is firmly on the table. "It's absolutely not in our plans to put him on the market. If Moh has to stay in Europe, it will be in Cholet," the agent emphasized.
Back in Cholet, the club is celebrating the recognition, while keeping its expectations measured.
"It's great for him. It's recognition of our work all season," said CB sporting director Guillaume Costentin. The club views a potential return as the logical next step but remains ready to respond quickly if Diawara’s NBA path accelerates.
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