The New York Knicks have been exploring a trade involving second-year wing Pacôme Dadiet to create salary flexibility and an open roster spot for veterans Malcolm Brogdon and Landry Shamet, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer.
Dadiet, 20, was the team’s first-round pick last year and appeared in limited action as a rookie. Moving his $2.8 million contract could give New York the financial breathing room needed to finalize its preseason roster before the Oct. 22 guarantee deadline.
However, the situation has become increasingly complex. A veteran sharpshooter has inserted himself into the mix with an impressive start to the preseason — Garrison Matthews.
“I keep hearing Garrison Matthews, who was also brought to camp with the Knicks, is a legit contender for the roster spot earmarked for a shooting specialist that Shamet hopes to claim,” Fischer reported on Sunday in The Stein Line.
Matthews Shines in Abu Dhabi
The 6-foot-6 Matthews has emerged as the most effective player among New York’s non-guaranteed signings, outperforming both Brogdon and Shamet through two exhibition games in Abu Dhabi — both Knicks victories over the Philadelphia 76ers.
Matthews averaged 7.5 points, ranking sixth on the team, and shot 50% from 3-point range. Among Knicks players who appeared in both games, Matthews was the most accurate perimeter shooter. He also averaged 1.5 assists without committing a turnover in just 11.6 minutes per game off the bench.
Brown Emphasizes Corner Shooting
New Knicks head coach Mike Brown has placed a premium on spacing and shooting, particularly from the corners — a strength that plays directly to Matthews’ skill set.
“For us, the biggest thing’s getting to the corners,” Brown told reporters during training camp. “You gotta have guys who can go to the corners quickly — especially guys who can shoot and make plays. Our one through four are interchangeable; the five runs or trails. If you get guys to the corner fast, that flattens the defense and starts the domino effect — drive, kick, and everything else.”
Matthews fits the profile perfectly. A career 38.2% 3-point shooter, he has built a reputation as a dependable floor spacer. Last season with the Atlanta Hawks, he averaged 7.5 points and 1.3 assists while shooting 39% from deep. In the prior season, he hit a career-high 44% of his 3-pointers.
Comparing the Competition
Shamet, listed at 6-foot-4, has struggled to make an impression early in the preseason. In two appearances, he averaged 4.0 points and shot 25 percent from beyond the arc. Brogdon — the 2023 NBA Sixth Man of the Year — has been steadier, averaging 4.0 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.5 steals in roughly 12 minutes per game.
Getty New York Knicks‘ Garrison Mathews falls on the court as he fights for the ball.
Still, Matthews’ combination of size, shooting efficiency, and defensive energy has reportedly caught the Knicks’ attention.
Financial Tightrope for Knicks
The Knicks’ challenge isn’t just about production — it’s about the salary cap. After using their taxpayer midlevel exception to sign French forward Guerschon Yabusele, the team is hard-capped at the NBA’s second apron, roughly $3.7 million below the limit.
That restriction leaves little flexibility. Unless the front office trades Dadiet’s contract — potentially for future draft compensation — New York may be able to keep only one of the three guards: Brogdon, Shamet, or Matthews.
Trading Dadiet would clear both a roster spot and enough financial space to keep two veterans, giving Brown added depth and perimeter shooting as the Knicks aim to build on last year’s Eastern Conference Finals run.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Knicks Preseason Surprise: Sharpshooter Challenges Shamet for Roster Spot appeared first on Heavy Sports.