The New York Knicks will be entering a rare championship-or-bust campaign in 2025-26 following their miraculous run to the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals last season, and their front office might make a few key changes to insure that they'll return.
New York's improved bench depth now gives the group a few more sets of fresh legs to deploy at any given moment, but one of their younger pieces could be on the move if the franchise decides that roster flexibility is of the utmost importance come playoff time.
According to a recent report, it's plausible to believe that in an effort to supply their two-headed monster of Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns with a veteran force in the postseason, the team could move on from 20-year-old guard Pacôme Dadiet to do so.
"New York is currently $3.7 million beneath the second apron, which it cannot cross," FanSided's Dan Favale wrote Saturday.
"Dumping (Tyler) Kolek’s $2.2 million nudges that number just over the $5.9 million needed. The Knicks would be less than $50,000 away from the second apron."
"Offloading Dadiet’s $2.8 million salary, on the other hand, leaves New York roughly $6.5 million beneath the second apron. After signing (Landry) Shamet, (Malcolm) Brogdon, and (Mohamed) Diawara, it would have around $600,000 in breathing room."
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"That additional $550,000 or so will come in handy if the Knicks want to add a 15th man for the playoff run."
If the Knicks are serious about adding another veteran presence to increase their likelihood of making an NBA Finals run, trading Dadiet could be the key to making it happen.
By hypothetically letting go of his $2.8 million salary, New York would be able to pay a potential late-season signing throughout a good chunk of the postseason.
While Dadiet's eventual departure would be unfortunate, it's likely in his best interests to prove that he can fit into another, less competitive team's rotation for the next few years while the Knicks contend for titles in the present.
Dadiet has played sparingly at the NBA level for the Knicks since the franchise selected him with the No. 25 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, and he averaged just 1.7 points and 1.0 rebounds in 18 appearances as a rookie in 2024-25.
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