Knicks select French teen Pacome Dadiet in NBA Draft after trade
The Knicks finished their anticlimactic draft with six more second-round picks and a European project.
Pacome Dadiet, a 6-foot-8 forward from France who played professionally in Germany last season, was their lone pick at No. 25.
He’s only 18 years old and makes sense as a draft-and-stash pick, but stated Wednesday his intention is to jump right into the NBA.
“I’m planning on playing here,” Dadiet said.
If he plays overseas again next season, Dadiet isn’t added to the Knicks’ payroll — which could help New York avoid the restrictive tax aprons as their salaries explode next season. But clearly Dadiet thinks he’s ready to join the Knicks after a positive predraft workout.
Team president Leon Rose did not talk to the media either before or after the draft.
“The workout went well,” Dadiet said. “So I knew they were interested. But until the last minute, I didn’t know where I was going. I’m very excited to start working. I can’t wait.”
The crowd at Barclays Center wasn’t impressed with the Dadiet choice, responding with muted applause and a few boos.
The last time the Knicks gambled on a young Frenchman — Frank Ntilikina in 2017 — it didn’t end well.
But there will be less pressure for Dadiet to perform, especially right away.
Coach Tom Thibodeau has been reluctant to play rookies in his career, and an 18-year-old is tough to picture in a win-now rotation.
Dadiet’s upside is as a defensive wing with shooting potential.
He called Kevin Durant his first inspiration in the NBA.
“I think I’m really versatile and can also bring what a rookie needs to bring — energy,” Dadiet said. “Coming in and grabbing rebounds to push the ball and also knock down shots. I think it’s very important for a rookie to bring those things.”
The Knicks were linked to more ready-made prospects, most notably Virginia wing Ryan Dunn — who fell to the Suns at No. 28.
The Knicks entered the night with picks No. 24 and No. 25.
They first traded back from No. 24 to No. 26 while picking up a second-round pick (No. 51) from the Wizards.
Then they traded No. 26 to the OKC for five second-rounders between the years of 2025 and 2027, according to reports.
For Thursday’s second round, which will be held in Manhattan, the Knicks now have picks No. 38 and 51.
The Knicks started with back-to-back picks because one of them — No. 24 — came courtesy of Dallas as the final payment of the 2019 Kristaps Porzingis trade.
Using their own draft pick has been a rarity for the Knicks and that will continue.
In the pending Mikal Bridges deal, they gave up control of their first-rounders in 2025, 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2031.
Finding productive players late in the draft has been a strength of Leon Rose and assistant GM Walt Perrin during their four-year tenures.
They took Immanuel Quickley and Quentin Grimes with the 25th picks.
They also nabbed Miles McBride in the second round.
Their disappointing choices were Obi Toppin (eighth overall) and Trevor Keels (42nd).
After trading Quickley, Grimes and RJ Barrett last season, the Knicks had zero of their first-round picks on the playoff roster.
It was a small surprise the Knicks didn’t target a center Wednesday.
That position is a bit in flux.
Their starter for most of last season, Isaiah Hartenstein, will soon hit unrestricted free agency and the Knicks will struggle to retain him given their cap restraints.
Mitchell Robinson is the obvious replacement but he’s coming off two surgical procedures to his ankle and never averaged more than 27.5 minutes in a season.
The Knicks can try to address that with their two second-rounders Thursday.