The Knicks sealed a multiyear contract worth over $10 million with 6-foot-9 French wing Mohamed Diawara before he could test restricted free agency. The 51st-overall pick from the 2025 draft logged 69 games and seven starts as a rookie, earning $1.27 million last season , the lowest salary on the roster. He will report to the Las Vegas summer league next Friday, marking the first time a non-rookie will appear in that setting for New York.
Diawara’s rookie numbers were modest but hinted at upside. He averaged 3.6 points and 1.4 rebounds in 9.2 minutes per game while shooting 36.9 percent from three-point range. His 7-foot-4-inch wingspan and athleticism earned him early projections as a potential elite defender, a skill set the Knicks hope to develop with more consistent minutes.
A flash of that potential came on Dec. 29 against the Pelicans, when Diawara knocked down four triples and finished with 18 points, earning a brief stint in the regular-season rotation. Coach Mike Brown praised the performance, saying, “Mo is not afraid. He’s the most confident young man I’ve been around. He’s got a chance to be really good.” The summer-league outing offers Diawara a chance to prove himself after falling out of Brown’s playoff rotation.
From a roster perspective, Diawara adds length and shooting to a wing group that already includes second-round pick Tyler Nickel (47th overall) and 2024 first-rounder Pacôme Dadiet. Dadiet, who does not turn 21 until July 27, is being evaluated as a potential trade chip to free roughly $6.5 million and give the front office flexibility as it eyes additional front-court depth following Mitchell Robinson’s departure to Boston. Former St. John’s guard Oziyah Sellers also signed a summer-league contract; the 6-foot-5 shooter posted a 37.8 percent three-point clip in college and averaged 10.3 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game last season, positioning himself for a possible training-camp invite.
The next few weeks will determine whether Diawara’s flashes translate into a regular-season role. A strong showing in Las Vegas could validate the $10 million commitment and cement his place among the Knicks’ long-term plans. Conversely, a lukewarm performance may relegate him to a fringe role and prompt the front office to explore additional roster moves before training camp begins.
New York Knicks 
