Knicks eye rookie growth to ease looming salary-cap crunch

Facing the NBA’s second-apron constraints, the Knicks chose not to retain Mitchell Robinson, tightening an already expensive payroll. Upcoming contract extensions for Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart add pressure, prompting the club to count on the development of 21-year-old forward Mohamed Diawara and fellow rookie Pacome Dadiet, whose combined 2026-27 salaries total $5.6 million. Diawara, a 2025 second-round pick, showed promising three-point shooting at 36.9 % and earned a four-year, $11.2 million deal, while Dadiet has seen limited minutes and must prove his value quickly.

With 13 players on the roster, New York sits $3.3 million under the $221.7 million second apron and will need to add a 14th player, further shrinking flexibility. Owner James Dolan reiterated that the franchise will not exceed the apron, meaning future moves may involve trading a starter like Josh Hart or Mikal Bridges. Consequently, the growth of Diawara and Dadiet could shape the Knicks’ roster and championship prospects.