The New York Knicks aim to bolster their roster after entering the 2025 NBA Draft with limited picks, trading their second-round spot (No. 50) to the Los Angeles Clippers for the 51st pick, selecting Mohamed Diawara, a promising French forward. Diawara, 20, has experience with the French national team and averaged 5.8 points in 27 games last season. As the Knicks look to fill their head coaching vacancy and address needs for a backup point guard, three-point shooting, and bench size, Diawara's performance in the Summer League will be pivotal.
With roster decisions looming, the Knicks are positioned above the first apron in salary commitments, complicating their offseason strategy. Key players, including Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, are on guaranteed contracts, while several others are at critical contract junctures. The franchise's future hinges on effectively leveraging this draft selection and optimizing their current roster.