Who Is Pacome Dadiet? All About Knicks’ 18-year-old Draft Pick from Paris & his Fit With Current Squad After Mikal Bridges Trade

With last night’s NBA draft taking place in New York, it was natural that the Barclay Center was filled with a lot of Knicks fans. And when Adam Silver announced that the Knicks used their 25 pick to select French National Pacome Dadiet, a player not many Americans have heard of, the arena was filled with confusion and loud boos. Even Stephen A. Smith had a disgusted look on his face following the announcement. However, the 18YO rookie might have more upside than people believe and could be part of the Knicks’ long-term plan following the Mikal Bridges trade.

While not many Knicks fans are aware of Dadiet’s talent, the kid from Aubagne, France has been playing at the pro-level since he was only sixteen years old. Starting his career in Paris’ LNB Pro A, Dadiet took a huge risk by leaving his home country at the age of seventeen to play in Germany’s popular Bundesliga. There, he joined Ratiopharm Ulm and stayed there for two years before declaring for this year’s draft. In his most recent Bundesliga season, Dadiet averaged 6.9 points while shooting 38.3% from the three-point line, which is very efficient for a 6’8 wing.

Talking about his recent performance, he has shot forty-three percent from deep range and over eighty percent from two in his last ten games. Moreover, Pacome also has a bronze medal from his 2022 Under 17 FIBA World Cup campaign to show for his body of work. And these numbers were enough to convince Stephen A. Smith that he might not be a bad pick after all. “OK! OK! I’m Good.” The analyst said after hearing the rookie’s stats. Apart from the overseas resume, Pacome also comes from a family of athletes as his elder brother Maxence also played pro basketball for Ivory Coast. More importantly, the Knicks fans should not be too worried because Pacome will likely not be expected to make an impact right away.

Pacome Dadiet will add to the Knicks’ depth

As a late first round pick, Dadiet is unlikely to get a lot of playing time next season, especially with Tom Thibodeau as the head coach. With Coach Thibs’ history of riding out his stars to their maximum limit, like we also saw this season, Dadiet is more likely to be a developmental project for the Knicks. Moreover, the Knicks are currently stacked at the wing spot as they recently added Mikal Bridges to their roster. Helping the Suns reach the finals three years ago, Mikal has proven that he can be a huge asset in a title contending team. Even last season on a mediocre team like the Nets, he averaged nearly twenty points while shooting 37.2% from deep and kept his stock value high for a possible trade. So, Thibodeau will definitely make Bridges a key part of his rotation because of his elite shooting and ability to play lockdown defense on multiple positions.

Meanwhile, the Knicks have made their intentions clear about their win-now approach as they reportedly plan on giving OG Anunoby a massive five-year $212.5 million extension. Before OG got injured late in the playoffs, he was a key reason why the Knicks found so much success against elite teams. From averaging over fourteen points to defending the best players on opponent teams, OG was ready to take on any challenge. And he was rewarded with a massive extension because of it. With the two primary forwards set, what does Pacome bring to the table for the Knicks? “I think I am really versatile but I can also bring what a rookie needs to bring in a team.” He said during the presser after getting drafted, priding on his energy and willingness to make hustle plays. And with this zeal to improve, he can develop his game next season while not facing the pressure of turning into a star right away as the Knicks are already a well-built team. And maybe in the future, Pacome will become a part of the permanent rotation and impact the game more.

Before you go, do not forget to check out what Shaquille O’Neal’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato has to say about the alleged Shaq and Kobe Lakers beef. Keep checking this space for more such updates.