The New York Knicks’ perfect preseason start in Abu Dhabi hasn’t stopped the clock on one big roster dilemma — and a fan-favorite youngster could be the casualty.
New York has until Oct. 22 to decide whether to fully guarantee the contracts of Malcolm Brogdon and Landry Shamet, two veteran guards who have impressed early in camp. But to keep both, someone has to go — and all signs point to Pacôme Dadiet.
Trade Calls Already Made
According to NBA insider Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, the Knicks have already started making calls on Dadiet, the 20-year-old French forward they drafted 25th overall in 2024.
“Sources tell The Stein Line that the Knicks have indeed already called several teams to gauge interest in Dadiet,” Fischer reported.
Dadiet’s inclusion in the preseason starting lineup — in place of OG Anunoby, who sat out with a hand injury — didn’t go unnoticed. Rival executives believe New York was “showcasing” the second-year wing to potential trade partners.
“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.
Uneven Preseason, But Knicks Coach Still Believes
Dadiet hasn’t exactly boosted his trade value on the floor. In two preseason appearances, he’s averaged 2.0 points, hitting just 1 of 8 shots and missing all six of his 3-point attempts.
Still, new head coach Mike Brown has been reluctant to pile on.
“He was solid for a young guy,” Brown told reporters in Abu Dhabi after the team’s second straight preseason win over the Philadelphia 76ers. “He’s long, he’s athletic. He went up, got the ball, and we ended up knocking down a three. For a young guy, he’s been solid.”
Brown also sees a defensive upside that’s hard to ignore.
“He could be a monster defensively,” the coach said. “He just has to play with urgency every single possession. Sometimes he relaxes, and when that happens, he’s not using his length and athleticism to his advantage.”
Knicks Front Office in a Financial Bind
The Knicks’ situation isn’t just about on-court performance — it’s about dollars and cents. After using their taxpayer midlevel exception to sign French forward Guerschon Yabusele, New York is hard-capped at the NBA’s second apron, roughly $3.7 million below the limit.
That cap pressure leaves them with little wiggle room. Unless they move Dadiet’s $2.8 million salary, they may only be able to keep one of Brogdon or Shamet. Trading Dadiet for future draft capital would free both the roster spot and financial space to keep both veterans.
Veterans Making Their Case
Brogdon, the 2023 Sixth Man of the Year, has looked sharp in limited minutes — 4.0 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.5 steals in 12 minutes per game. Shamet has also been steady, averaging 4.0 points in similar playing time.
Both have the kind of experience and shooting the Knicks want behind Jalen Brunson, but the math just doesn’t add up yet.
“Going into my 10th year, I wanted to be in a good organization that’s competing and trying to win a championship,” Brogdon said, per New York Post. “I had that in Milwaukee, and in Boston, I really had that. Here, there’s a real shot.”
“Anything that can take pressure off Jalen is the big goal going forward with this team,’’ Brogdon said via Martin. “That’s what I want to do this year: Take pressure off him on both sides of the ball — and everybody else.’’
One Spot, Three Wings, and a Clock Ticking
New York’s preseason may be off to a smooth start, but the front office faces a tougher challenge behind the scenes: choosing between long-term development and short-term depth.
With one roster spot, two veterans, and a hard cap squeezing every dollar, Dadiet could end up being the price of experience.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Knicks Make Trade Calls to Keep Brogdon, Shamet: Report appeared first on Heavy Sports.