When Tom Thibodeau was the head coach of the New York Knicks, they ran a short rotation and rode their starters heavily while limiting how much playing time their bench players received. But now that Mike Brown has replaced Thibodeau, that approach is gone.
The Knicks actually have a solid bench now, especially in the backcourt. Miles McBride is a spark plug at the point guard spot, and Landry Shamet is a deadly 3-point shooter. This offseason, they also brought in Jordan Clarkson and Malcolm Brogdon, both of whom won the Sixth Man of the Year award in recent seasons.
The contracts of Clarkson and Brogdon aren’t fully guaranteed, and New York has until Oct. 22 to decide whether to fully guarantee their deals. In order to fully guarantee their deals, New York will have to get rid of someone from its roster.
To that end, the team is reportedly shopping Pacôme Dadiet, a first-round draft pick in 2024, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer.
“Sources tell The Stein Line that the Knicks have indeed already called several teams to gauge interest in Dadiet,” Fischer reported.
Read more: Report: Warriors Have Trade Interest From 3 Teams in Jonathan Kuminga
Dadiet, a 6-foot-8 forward out of France, barely played as a rookie last season and struggled with his shooting when he did get on the court. But he was in the Knicks’ starting lineup in their first preseason game on Thursday and played 15 minutes, which made it seem as if they were showcasing him for a potential trade.
“When I was working the phones Friday, numerous teams were convinced New York had Dadiet in the starting lineup purely to showcase him,” Fischer added.
Brown told the media after his team’s second preseason contest on Saturday that he believes Dadiet has the potential to be a “monster” on the defensive end. In 14 games with the G League’s Westchester Knicks last season, he registered 14.9 points a game, although he shot just 40.6% from the field and 31.9% from 3-point range.
While the Knicks have a lot more depth at the guard spots this year, they could use a reliable reserve at the wing position. If Dadiet doesn’t get traded, perhaps he could have a chance to eventually develop into that type of player.
Read more: Mavericks’ Anthony Davis Facing Harsh Criticism
This season presents a golden opportunity for the Knicks. With Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum and Indiana Pacers floor general Tyrese Haliburton out for the duration with torn Achilles tendons, the Eastern Conference is seemingly up for grabs. The Knicks, who reached the Eastern Conference finals in May, can take advantage and reach the NBA Finals, as they have arguably the best overall roster in the East.
New York hasn’t gotten to the NBA Finals since 1999, and it hasn’t won the world championship since 1973.
For more on the Knicks and general NBA news, head over to Newsweek Sports.