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The Knicks told us how they felt about Mohamed Diawara by locking him up to an extension before the restricted free agent could test the open market.
Leon Rose & Co. are obviously very high on the 6-foot-9 wing, after a better-than-expected rookie year in which the 51st overall pick in the 2025 draft appeared in 69 games and made seven starts.
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The front office and Diawara agreed to a multiyear deal worth over $10 million, according to The Post’s Stefan Bondy.
It is a hefty raise after Diawara earned $1.27 million last season, the lowest on the team.
Next up for Diawara is summer league in Las Vegas, beginning next Friday.
He is the main attraction on a roster that also includes second-round pick (47th overall) Tyler Nickel out of Vanderbilt and 2024 first-round pick Pacôme Dadiet.
The best thing that can be said about a non-rookie in summer league is that he doesn’t belong there.
Mohamed Diawara attempts a shot during the Knicks’ Dec. 25 game. Charles Wenzelberg
The Knicks would obviously like that to be the case with Diawara.
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This is an opportunity for him to prove himself after falling out of coach Mike Brown’s playoff rotation.
He will likely be featured.
The Frenchman had a strong first season, averaging 3.6 points, 1.4 rebounds and shooting 36.9 percent from 3-point range in 9.2 minutes.
His offense surprised the Knicks.
He was projected as a potential elite defender due to his impressive length (7-foot-4 wingspan) and athleticism.
Diawara enjoyed a breakout performance in a Dec. 29 win against the Pelicans in which he made four 3-pointers and scored 18 points, and broke into the regular-season rotation in December.
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“Mo is not afraid,” Brown said then. “He’s the most confident young man I’ve been around. He’s got a chance to be really good.”
The Post takes a look at other things to watch for the Knicks summer league team:
Dadiet a potential trade chip
The clock could be ticking on the 6-foot-9 Dadiet.
Diawara appears to have passed him.
In two years, Dadiet has played in only 47 games as a Knick.
Over the next few weeks he has a chance to impress.
The better he performs, the better for…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/mohamed-diawara-chance-prove-himself-015530640.html
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Publish date : 2026-07-05 01:55:00
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