Mohamed Diawara, Knicks
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Mohamed Diawara in action during the basketball match PAOK vs Cholet for the first leg of the semi-finals of FIBA Europe Cup.
While the New York Knicks’ lone veteran minimum roster spot is still undecided, the team’s rookie minimum slot looks all but settled. According to SNY’s Ian Begley, the Knicks plan to sign 51st overall pick Mohamed Diawara to a rookie minimum deal as training camp approaches.
The Knicks remain hard-capped at the league’s second apron after using their taxpayer midlevel exception this summer to bring in French forward Guerschon Yabusele. That leaves New York roughly $3.7 million under the threshold, creating just enough space for one veteran minimum addition and a draft pick on a rookie contract.
“The rookie needs to have been drafted by the Knicks. So the plan heading into camp is for New York to sign Mohamed Diawara to that rookie deal,” Begley wrote.
Defensive Tools, Offensive Work in Progress
Diawara showcased flashes of his potential in the NBA Summer League, averaging 7.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.3 steals across 22.3 minutes per game. But his efficiency lagged behind the effort. He connected on just 40% of his field goals and a troubling 15.4% from beyond the arc.
Even so, Diawara’s physical profile makes him an intriguing project. At last year’s Adidas Euro Camp, he measured 6-foot-9 in shoes with a 7-foot-4 wingspan and a 9-foot-2 standing reach, offering elite length and mobility for a modern forward.
He has already enjoyed international success, helping France win the Under-20 EuroBasket title in 2023. During the tournament, he averaged 7.0 points on 51.4% shooting with 3.7 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 19.3 minutes as a starter.
“I feel like I’m a big guard,” Diawara told NBADraft.net. “I can [handle] the ball like a guard and that’s what I think I’m way better right now.”
Developing in France
Diawara has been playing professionally in France for three years with Cholet in the country’s top league, LNB Elite. Last season, he averaged 5.8 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.4 assists while shooting 38.3% from the field and 31% from three-point range.
Although his offensive game remains raw, Diawara emphasizes his defensive versatility as his strongest attribute and the key to carving out a role in the NBA.
“I think it’s defense, for sure,” Diawara said when asked what he does best. “You cannot win games if you’re not defending. So I feel like it is making stops … the one thing that you need to win games and the main thing I do best. I think I pressure the ball full court.”
With his length and mobility, scouts believe Diawara could evolve into a disruptive force once his fundamentals and offensive skill set catch up to his athletic tools.
Veteran Competition Still Open
While Diawara’s spot appears secure, the Knicks face a tougher decision with their veteran minimum slot. The franchise signed Malcolm Brogdon and Landry Shamet to one-year, non-guaranteed deals, setting up a battle for the final roster spot. Garrison Mathews has also been signed to a training camp deal to add competition.
According to NBA insider Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, the Knicks are already weighing trade scenarios to create financial breathing room if they wish to keep both Brogdon and Shamet. One straightforward option, Fischer reported, would be moving 2024 first-round pick Pacôme Dadiet.
Should Dadiet be traded, Diawara would step into the developmental forward role behind OG Anunoby and his countryman Yabusele, giving the Knicks another young defensive-minded piece as they look to solidify the back end of their roster.