According to SNY’s Robert Sanchez, the Knicks have signed their No. 25 overall pick, Pacome Dadiet, to a contract worth 80 percent of a standard first-round deal. To facilitate this, they paid $850,000 to Dadiet’s former team, Ratiopharm Ulm in the German BBL, as part of a buyout. This arrangement benefits all parties involved:
“SNY’s Ian Begley reported that the Knicks finalized the deal on Thursday. The buyout payment allowed the team to save about $900,000 under the 2024-25 hard cap, as the overseas buyout doesn’t count towards the team’s salary cap,” Sanchez noted.
The Knicks can allocate the funds saved from Pacome Dadiet’s signing towards acquiring another free agent.
Dadiet’s salary remains unaffected by the reduced rookie deal, and the Knicks’ nearly $1 million in savings could be used to sign a free agent, such as a much-needed center, with a more substantial contract. Given that the Knicks are over the salary cap for the upcoming season, these savings will provide valuable flexibility.
Dadiet will get the opportunity to make an impact for the Knicks at the Vegas Summer League next weekend.
The Knicks will kick off the 2024 Vegas Summer League on July 13, facing the Charlotte Hornets. This game will be Dadiet’s first opportunity to showcase his skills in a Knicks uniform. With high expectations for the versatile forward, his rookie contract will likely be closely scrutinized throughout the 2024-25 season.
