Mohamed Diawara lasted until the No. 51 pick in June, which the Knicks acquired from the Clippers. The French forward admitted to James Edwards III of The Athletic that he was unsure if anyone would take him despite some positive feedback in pre-draft workouts.
“I didn’t know at all,” Diawara said. “I was hoping to get drafted but I had no clue if I would at all. I worked out with 13 teams. The feedback was pretty good. I did a lot of good workouts. I feel like I showed a lot of stuff to other teams. I felt confident that I wouldn’t regret anything.”
Diawara has been a pleasant surprise and made his biggest impact this season in a five-point win over New Orleans on Monday, contributing 18 points and two steals in 18 minutes in a starting role. Diawara is currently on a one-year contract and will be a restricted free agent after the season.
“His feel for the game is uncanny for someone his size and how young he is,” coach Mike Brown said. “Everything you try to teach him, he tries to absorb it. He works extremely hard. He’s long and a pretty good defender. He’s getting better. There are a lot of little things you watch and go, ‘Wow, oh my gosh.’ All of those things, when they add up, it gives you more confidence as a coaching staff to throw him out there and see what’s going to happen.”
We have more on the Knicks:
- Karl-Anthony Towns wants to be an All-Star but he’d like to play for the World team under the new format in the annual event, Stefan Bondy of the New York Post reports. Towns was born and raised in the United States but has represented his mother’s native country, Dominican Republic, in international competitions, including the 2023 World Cup.
- Mikal Bridges and Brown have had some long discussions and the forward feels a bond with his coach, Bondy writes. “I think we had some meetings and talked to each other and stuff. I think honestly right now is probably the most I’ve been close with Mike. I think right now, honestly, to this day,” Bridges said. “Just have some good conversations, talk to each other. And just picking his brain, hear what he’s thinking and me voicing some things. Kind of get that clarity from your coach. Because you never know what’s going on — playing hard and just talking to him, what he’s thinking about our team and stuff. I think we had a pretty good talk before Christmas, and I think our relationship is just — it was always fine. But I think it’s definitely going up.” Bridges signed a four-year, $150MM extension in August.
- Mitchell Robinson will miss his second straight game on Wednesday against San Antonio due to left ankle injury management, Edwards tweets. Robinson hasn’t suffered a setback but the team is being cautious due to a heavy schedule recently. Josh Hart (right ankle sprain) and Landry Shamet (right shoulder sprain) remain out as well.
Bridges may be an incognito coach killer based on a lot of the whispers, including his contribution to Thibs’ exit
In his defense… Thibs was killing bridges. Mike Brown knows how to use his bench. This matters over the course of a long season.
Was definitely playing him crazy minutes
Bridges plays 82 games. Nothing he does is wrong. Everyone should try to be more like Mikal. I like watching Bridges getting mad at Towns for zero effort on defense
luvhoops:
Well, his last coach had a knack for running players into the ground. So I think he killed himself.
Towns disrespecting the USA. Go move somewhere else rich kid
Diawara’s been a great find for the Knicks, especially since he was the only one who could fit into the rookie minimum salary spot they had under the apron. They had to have draft rights for that player to do that. I think they only will be able to sign a 15th player to two ten-day contracts later in the season while remaining under the apron if they don’t shed any payroll.
That’s what TD is for. They can do it then with a trade or two. They need to add to bench. You need experience for a good playoff run.
Nice to see the young fella balling. Has good size and instincts. Go get yours …..
McCullar at 24 and healthy. Could be finally be ready to help. We need you bro. Go get it….
Bridges is still not leveling up on offense. Disappointing to see. His coach and point guard not pushing him to score more. Come on Mikal. Knicjs need 22 a gm from you. “2WayBridges”
I have to wonder why Diawara was only signed for 1 season, without at least a team option (at minimum) for a second season. Add him to Hukporti as premature RFA’s this off season.
Because that was all the team could legally offer him while staying under the apron. Look up the old articles that explain the technicalities.
Don’t think so, unless the FO did something to cause it. As a draft rights player, he could always have been signed using the standard Minimum Salary Exception (which can be for 2 years, including a 1 + 1 team option) without any fear of a gross up for apron/tax purposes.
Diawara was on an Exhibit 10 for camp, which meant the Second Round Exception couldn’t be used.
He was on an E10 for flexibility purposes, which signals they preferred him on a Two-Way if a Dadiet/etc trade materialized. Back when they were angling for Brogdon as the 14th man.
Yes, the Second Round Exception couldn’t be used because of the Exhibit 10. But, I believe, the Minimum Salary Exception would still apply.
Luke – do you know if Diawara was ineligible for a second year on his deal for some reason?
DXC:
We have definitely seen the Knicks be a very savvy front office when it comes to contracts, the salary cap, and the aprons. They don’t make stupid mistakes so I imagine that would be the case here as well. I have to think there’s something you’re missing here. I could be wrong but then why wouldn’t they have just done that? Again, this is a front office that has manipulated finances beyond what most people could’ve expected.
@Miken – Agreed, on cap issues (they have one of the best cap guys in the league). But that’s structure. The FO hasn’t negotiated the best monetary terms. Other than Brunson (who had his own reasons), all of the contracts they did are on the player favorable side. Of course, the FO knows that a team option is a good thing, and few 51st picks would have the leverage to resist it. But the FO’s timing might have given him more. Maybe a CBA rule is the reason, but I wouldn’t assume it.
DXC:
You might be right, but remember this is NBA. How many contracts are not more favorable to the player? That’s the structure of the vast majority of NBA contracts. It’s a players league without question. I certainly respect your knowledge, but I have to think if they could’ve added a cheap option and it made sense that’s something they would’ve done.
OK. I’m not suggesting they unilaterally elected not to have a TO, or that they forgot or are otherwise inept. Of course, they couldn’t include it when all was said and done. I’m interested in why they couldn’t. CBA prohibition? Or did they exclude it in the negotiations with the player in exchange for other things?
I know most people don’t care, but I’m interested. With this contract (whatever its virtues), the NYK’s can only offer him a 2nd year minimum contract to him next year (or use the Txp-MLE to the extent available, which is unclear). If he outplays that, we may be developing him for one of our competitors. If so, I’d like to know what we got in exchange for that.