Tyler Kolek, Bronny James, Knicks
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Tyler Kolek of the New York Knicks drives against Bronny James of the Los Angeles Lakers.
The New York Knicks’ backcourt logjam has fueled trade interest in second-year point guard Tyler Kolek, ClutchPoints‘ Kris Pursiainen reported Friday.
With the recent signings of veteran guards Malcolm Brogdon and Landry Shamet, Kolek could find himself buried on the depth chart. At least one NBA team has expressed interest in acquiring the 20-year-old guard this offseason.
“The expectation of several league sources is that the organization will trade a player for draft capital to clear a roster spot,” Pursiainen wrote. “Jalen Brunson, Miles ‘Deuce’ McBride, and new additions in Jordan Clarkson and Brogdon give the team depth at guard. Moving Kolek could afford the 24-year-old opportunity that he would not get in New York.”
Kolek, the 34th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft, had an uneven performance in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas in July, averaging 11.7 points on 32.3% shooting from the field, including 17.1% from three-point range, with 5.0 assists against 4.0 turnovers across five games.
Draft Flexibility and Financial Constraints
The trade chatter comes as the Knicks look to keep both Brogdon and Shamet, who signed one-year non-guaranteed deals to compete for the final veteran minimum contract. NBA insider Jake Fischer previously reported that the team is exploring various trade scenarios to gain flexibility under the league’s hard cap.
“League sources say the Knicks have begun to weigh various trade scenarios to provide that needed distance from the second tax apron in the event they wish to keep both Shamet and Brogdon,” Fischer wrote in The Stein Line newsletter. “One of the few possibilities that could be easily executed is parting with 2024 first-round pick Pacôme Dadiet.”
Pacôme Dadiet
GettyPacôme Dadiet posing with Adam Silver after the New York Knicks selected him with the 25th pick of the 2024 NBA Draft.
Dadiet, the 25th overall pick in last year’s draft, saw limited playing time, averaging 1.7 points in 6.2 minutes across 18 games. Trading his $2.8 million contract, or Kolek’s $2.2 million salary, could open room to guarantee both Brogdon and Shamet while acquiring draft compensation.
The Knicks remain hard-capped at roughly $3.7 million under the league’s second apron after using the taxpayer midlevel exception to sign French forward Guerschon Yabusele. ESPN front office insider Bobby Marks notes that Brogdon and Shamet’s contracts will not count against the cap until opening night, giving New York flexibility to maneuver.
Veteran Options for the Final Roster Spot
If no trade materializes, Brogdon appears poised to secure the final roster spot.
The 32-year-old guard, a former Rookie of the Year and Sixth Man of the Year, averaged 12.7 points, 4.1 assists, and 3.8 rebounds in 24 games last season with the Washington Wizards, though he missed the final 28 contests due to a left ankle sprain. His 6-foot-10½ wingspan and defensive versatility could bolster a bench that struggled to contain opposing perimeter players in last season’s playoffs.
Shamet, 28, provides familiarity. He joined the Knicks last season on a non-guaranteed contract but was released after a preseason shoulder injury. Returning in December, Shamet contributed as a floor-spacing guard, averaging 5.7 points and 39.7% from beyond the arc over 36 games, including 12 points in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Indiana Pacers.
Experience vs. Potential
Both Brogdon and Shamet offer NBA experience that Kolek has yet to develop. The Knicks’ decision will balance the need for veteran stability against the potential of a young guard who could benefit from more playing time elsewhere.
For Kolek, a trade could provide the opportunity to grow in a less crowded backcourt, while the Knicks focus on maximizing their championship window after reaching the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in 25 years.