The New York Knicks have inked their highly-touted first-round draft pick to his rookie deal, with a kicker.
Per SNY’s Robert Sanchez, the Knicks signed No. 25 overall pick Pacome Dadiet while buying him out of his deal with the German professional basketball team Ratiopharm Ulm of the Basketball Bundesliga (BBL), which worked beneficially for all parties involved:
“The Knicks signed first-round draft pick Pacome Dadiet to 80 percent of a standard first-round contract on Thursday after paying $850,000 to Ratiopharm Ulm, Dadiet’s German club, as part of a buyout, per SNY’s Ian Begley,” Sanchez wrote.
“The deal saves New York roughly $900,000 under the 2024-25 hard cap because the buyout paid overseas doesn’t count towards the team’s salary.”
Knicks can use money saved from Pacome Dadiet signing on another free agent
Dadiet won’t experience a reduction in pay and the near-$1 million savings for the franchise could help the franchise sign a free agent such as a needed center to a deal with more dollars behind it. The Knicks are above the salary cap for next season so any savings will help the team in the short-term.
Dadiet will have the chance to produce for the Knicks at Vegas Summer League next weekend
The Knicks will begin 2024 Vegas Summer League on July 13 against the Charlotte Hornets, where Dadiet will get his first chance to show out in a Knicks uniform against his peers. Expectations are high for the combo forward, which will likely put his rookie deal under a microscope for the duration of the 2024-25 campaign.