​Pacome Dadiet is on the Knicks’ 2026 Summer League roster, while Tyler Kolek is not. This contrast stands out as New York opens its Las Vegas slate against the cross-town rival Brooklyn Nets on Friday. Dadiet, a 6-foot-9 French wing whom the front office, known for its budget-conscious approach, chose with the 25th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, has yet to prove he can affect winning or produce meaningful box-score numbers over two NBA seasons. In contrast, Kolek—taken nine spots later in that same draft—faces no Summer League scrutiny because he has already demonstrated his ability at the professional level.
Over his first two seasons, Dadiet has appeared in only 47 games and has averaged a modest 1.7 points per game on 33.3% shooting from the field and 25.5% from three-point range in limited minutes. Those figures aren’t nearly enough to justify retaining a first-round pick, especially with a guaranteed fourth-year option worth roughly $5.4 million on his contract. Given the Knicks’ cap situation and the directive not to exceed the $222 million second apron, the team cannot afford to commit that level of cap space to a player who hasn’t delivered.
For all intents and purposes, Dadiet is entering a contract year. He’s one of several players the reigning NBA champions will be evaluating during their Summer League run to fill the 14th and final roster spot. The Knicks are scheduled to play at least four Summer League games, which will determine whether they advance to the next round: Friday, July 10 against Brooklyn; Saturday, July 11 versus San Antonio; Tuesday, July 13 against Detroit; and Friday, July 16 against Golden State. The club currently lists 17 players on its Summer League roster, with Mike Brown’s assistant coach, T.J. Saint, serving as the Las Vegas head coach.
Mohamed Diawara, Pacome Dadiet, Dillon Jones, Toby Okani, and Nick Jourdain are among the familiar names on the roster. Diawara has traveled to Las Vegas to showcase the gains made since last season, following a standout rookie stretch during the Knicks’ playoff push. He signed a four-year, $11.2 million deal to return to the Knicks as a restricted free agent this offseason. In Summer League, he can demonstrate the progress in his game—an increasingly reliable three-point threat and solid ball-handling—with a frame of 6-foot-9, a 7-foot-4 wingspan, and a 9-foot standing reach that gives him notable defensive potential.
Diawara shot 36.7% from three as a rookie, and his length and athleticism suggest a high ceiling on the defensive end. Jones, who has now captured back-to-back NBA championships, contributed in less obvious but meaningful ways during the Knicks’ title run and is admired by head coach Mike Brown for his veteran presence and instincts from the sidelines. Jones appeared in seven games for the Knicks last season, though his impact extended beyond the stat sheet.
Okani joins the Summer League roster after spending last season with Westchester, where he showed the versatility to guard multiple positions. Jourdain, another familiar face from last year’s G-League roster, brings a similar defensive mindset and willingness to contribute on the perimeter and in transition.
Tyler Nickel and Jack Kayil round out the group, and the Knicks have emphasized a robust, multi-faceted approach to evaluating players in Las Vegas. The club’s aim is to identify contributors who can supplement a rotation that remains transitional and young, while also considering the potential upside of players who have already shown some professional-grade capabilities.
As the team navigates these Summer League dates, the question of Dadiet’s future remains at the forefront. With restricted minutes and a high-stakes fourth-year option on the line, every outing will be scrutinized for signs of growth, confidence, and the ability to impact the game beyond scoring. The Knicks will rely on their coaching staff to develop the collective potential of this group, balancing the development of young prospects with the realities of a tightly budgeted cap situation.