Knicks made ‘great’ first-round pick with French teen Pacome Dadiet: ESPN analyst
Knicks fans need to be patient, but the wait may be worth the reward.
ESPN basketball analyst Fran Fraschilla, a self-described “international hoops junkie,” believes the Knicks aced the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft on Wednesday when they picked French wing Pacome Dadiet at No. 25.
“This was a great pick up for the Knicks,” Fraschilla tweeted. “If you are a Westchester Knicks fan, buy your tickets now because he will spend time there, but love his long-term upside.”
The Knicks seemingly took the long approach Wednesday by drafting Dadiet, a raw 18-year-old with upside, compared to adding a player who would project for immediate bench minutes.
It’s possible they could stash the 6-foot-8 wing, although he said he plans to play in the NBA next season. The Knicks may ultimately force the issue since stashing him will save money against the salary cap.
“I think I’m really versatile and can also bring what a rookie needs to bring — energy,” Dadiet said. “Coming in and grabbing rebounds to push the ball and also knock down shots. I think it’s very important for a rookie to bring those things.”
Dadiet became the fourth French prospect to be selected in the first round, which Fraschilla had predicted late Tuesday night.
Fellow Frenchmen Zaccharie Risacher (No. 1), Alex Sarr (No. 2) and Tidjane Salaun (No. 6) went to the Hawks, Wizards and Hornets, respectively.
The ESPN analyst compared Dadiet to Magic forward Franz Wagner, who averaged 19.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists this past season.
The Knicks can only hope Dadiet follows that path rather than the last French prospect they drafted in the first round, 2017 No. 8 pick Frank Ntilikina.
“Love (Dadiet’s) future,” Fraschilla tweeted Tuesday. “One German coach in the BBL where he played this year told me he’s better at the same age than Franz Wagner. High praise. Remember Franz spent two more years at Michigan before NBA..”
