The NBA season never truly ends. The Knicks will kick off their Summer League schedule with a Friday night matchup against the Detroit Pistons.
The Knicks only had one pick in this year’s draft (second-rounder Mohamed Diawara), but the club still has several prospects — including 2024 first-round pick Pacome Dadiet — playing this summer. Here’s who to keep an eye on during the action…
Pacome Dadiet
The Knicks’ lone first-round pick over the past two years, Dadiet has potential as a 3-and-D wing. Standing 6-foot-8, Dadiet has an important Summer League ahead of him.
Dadiet barely played for the Knicks during his rookie season, and his stint in the G League was not impressive. He only shot 40.6 percent from the field and 31.9 percent in 14 regular season games with the Westchester Knicks. But Dadiet is only 19 years old, so there’s still room for him to grow.
During Summer League, it will be important to see how Dadiet guards the ball, if he’s in the right places as a help defender, and if he can make an impact on the boards. On offense, the focus for the Frenchman should be knocking down open shots, and making quick reads of when to cut or attack off the dribble.
Tyler Kolek
Kolek had a quiet rookie season, but he did play the most minutes of any of the Knicks’ four rookies (296). Already a strong playmaking point guard, Kolek is a proven passer.
He averaged 8.9 assists in eight G League games with the Westchester Knicks, but scoring should be a focus for Kolek. The guard shot just 32 percent with Westchester and 29.8 percent with the Knicks.
The point guard also needs to grow as a finisher, both in the midrange and in the paint. With Kolek’s lack of size and athleticism, developing a floater would be useful. Also, his point-of-attack defense will be something to watch. With Cameron Payne a free agent, Kolek is currently New York’s only other point guard on the roster outside of Jalen Brunson. There’s a chance he could see some time on the floor next season.
Ariel Hukporti
Hukporti should have a simple role for Summer League: set good screens, roll to the basket, and protect the rim on defense. With Mitchell Robinson’s injury history, Hukporti has the potential to find minutes at center this season.
For Summer League, the Knicks will get a good look at how Hukporti has improved from when they drafted him. It would be nice to see the team throw him the ball in the post occasionally during these games and see what he can do.
In his rookie season, Hukporti showed promise in limited minutes before missing significant time due to a torn meniscus in his left knee. The seven-footer has good touch around the basket. If Hukporti keeps it simple and takes care of his responsibilities as a center, Summer League will be a success.
Kevin McCullar Jr.
There were other intriguing options to look at, such as Diawara — who is 6-foot-8 with a 7-foot-4 wingspan. There’s also former 2023 second-rounder James Nnaji, who is a raw but athletic big with a 7-foot-7 wingspan.
However, let’s go with McCullar. A second-round pick in 2024, McCullar is on a two-way contract. As he rehabbed from a torn ACL suffered in college at Kansas, McCullar was limited to just four games last season.
An older prospect at the age of 24, McCullar will need to prove he can knock down shots from the perimeter to excel in the league. The wing shot only 22.2 percent from three in 13 regular season G League games. McCullar has a good feel for the game and can make an impact in multiple ways, as evidenced by him averaging 18.3 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.1 assists in his last collegiate season.
The NBA season never truly ends. The Knicks will kick off their Summer League schedule with a Friday night matchup against the Detroit Pistons.
The Knicks only had one pick in this year’s draft (second-rounder Mohamed Diawara), but the club still has several prospects — including 2024 first-round pick Pacome Dadiet — playing this summer. Here’s who to keep an eye on during the action…
Pacome Dadiet
The Knicks’ lone first-round pick over the past two years, Dadiet has potential as a 3-and-D wing. Standing 6-foot-8, Dadiet has an important Summer League ahead of him.
Dadiet barely played for the Knicks during his rookie season, and his stint in the G League was not impressive. He only shot 40.6 percent from the field and 31.9 percent in 14 regular season games with the Westchester Knicks. But Dadiet is only 19 years old, so there’s still room for him to grow.
During Summer League, it will be important to see how Dadiet guards the ball, if he’s in the right places as a help defender, and if he can make an impact on the boards. On offense, the focus for the Frenchman should be knocking down open shots, and making quick reads of when to cut or attack off the dribble.
Tyler Kolek
Kolek had a quiet rookie season, but he did play the most minutes of any of the Knicks’ four rookies (296). Already a strong playmaking point guard, Kolek is a proven passer.
He averaged 8.9 assists in eight G League games with the Westchester Knicks, but scoring should be a focus for Kolek. The guard shot just 32 percent with Westchester and 29.8 percent with the Knicks.
The point guard also needs to grow as a finisher, both in the midrange and in the paint. With Kolek’s lack of size and athleticism, developing a floater would be useful. Also, his point-of-attack defense will be something to watch. With Cameron Payne a free agent, Kolek is currently New York’s only other point guard on the roster outside of Jalen Brunson. There’s a chance he could see some time on the floor next season.
Ariel Hukporti
Hukporti should have a simple role for Summer League: set good screens, roll to the basket, and protect the rim on defense. With Mitchell Robinson’s injury history, Hukporti has the potential to find minutes at center this season.
For Summer League, the Knicks will get a good look at how Hukporti has improved from when they drafted him. It would be nice to see the team throw him the ball in the post occasionally during these games and see what he can do.
In his rookie season, Hukporti showed promise in limited minutes before missing significant time due to a torn meniscus in his left knee. The seven-footer has good touch around the basket. If Hukporti keeps it simple and takes care of his responsibilities as a center, Summer League will be a success.
Kevin McCullar Jr.
There were other intriguing options to look at, such as Diawara — who is 6-foot-8 with a 7-foot-4 wingspan. There’s also former 2023 second-rounder James Nnaji, who is a raw but athletic big with a 7-foot-7 wingspan.
However, let’s go with McCullar. A second-round pick in 2024, McCullar is on a two-way contract. As he rehabbed from a torn ACL suffered in college at Kansas, McCullar was limited to just four games last season.
An older prospect at the age of 24, McCullar will need to prove he can knock down shots from the perimeter to excel in the league. The wing shot only 22.2 percent from three in 13 regular season G League games. McCullar has a good feel for the game and can make an impact in multiple ways, as evidenced by him averaging 18.3 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.1 assists in his last collegiate season.
