Eventually, the Knicks will need one of them to break through.
asserted
one → need → them
It’s been a while — really, since Miles McBride — since a Knicks draft pick has developed into a consistent mainstay in the rotation.
asserted
pick → develop → rotation
A big part of that is due to the Knicks not having high picks and often trading out of the first round entirely.
asserted
Knicks → have → round
But in the apron era, finding value in young, cheap players is critical.
asserted
finding → find → players
Pacôme Dadiet has done nothing to establish himself the past two years.
asserted
Dadiet → do → himself
Tyler Kolek has shown flashes and become a fan favorite, but he continues to be buried in the pecking order and the Knicks clearly were not comfortable trusting him to be the primary backup point guard last year, trading for Jose Alvarado.
Kevin McCullar Jr. is hanging on with a two-way deal.
asserted
Jr. → show → deal
Ariel Hukporti was used only in emergencies last year and departed for Philadelphia during the offseason.
asserted
Hukporti → use → offseason
Diawara, more than any of the others, had spells during his first NBA regular season in which he had a sustained spot in head coach Mike Brown’s rotation.
asserted
he → have → rotation
During the postseason, though, he was on the outside looking in as the rotation condensed.
asserted
rotation → look → outside
“We have a great team with big players, so if I was in the rotation and I’m not in the rotation anymore, I think it’s just part of the game for the whole team,” Diawara said after practice Saturday.
asserted
Diawara → have → practice
“I just gotta [play] my role, especially as a rookie, that was my first year.
asserted
that → got → rookie
I wasn’t really thinking about that, I was just ready to take any opportunity.
asserted
I → think → opportunity
I wasn’t thinking about not playing and stuff.”
At 6-foot-9 with long arms, he already is a strong defender with the type of frame that offers exciting potential.
asserted
that → think → potential
“I think he has endless upside,” OG Anunoby said.
asserted
Anunoby → think → upside
“He’s very talented, can do a lot: shoot, defend, pass.
asserted
He → ’ → lot
He can do everything; a really versatile player.
asserted
He → do → player
I’m excited to see him grow.
asserted
him → ’m → ?
I think he’s going to keep getting better and better, so I’m really excited for him.”
asserted
I → think → him
Diawara identified two areas in which he most needs to improve: physicality and 3-point shooting.
asserted
he → identify → which
“Now that I know a little bit more the physicality that I need in the league, how I need to prepare my body,” Diawara said.
asserted
Diawara → know → body
“… I think now that I have a year in the league, it’s a little bit easier to see how I can prepare for the new season.
asserted
I → think → season
There is clear belief in Diawara’s development, as the Knicks made it a priority to bring him back with a four-year, $11.2 million contract this past offseason.
asserted
it → be → contract
He struggled in summer league, however, where he also suffered an injury to his left ring finger that required a minor procedure.
asserted
that → struggle → procedure
He’s fine now and already showing signs of growth.
asserted
He → ’ → growth
What’s happening on and off the Garden court
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asserted
happening → happen → Sports+
Thank you
A Year 2 breakout could cement Diawara as a Knicks mainstay.
uncertain
breakout → thank → mainstay
“Last year, you could see he was a little jittery when he was out there,” Brown said Saturday, “because he didn’t quite know what to do, and he knew when he did it, he just had to go hard.
uncertain
he → see → it
So a lot of times, he would just play at one speed.
asserted
he → play → speed
There’s a comfort level now, so his cadence is better, especially offensively.
asserted
cadence → ’ → ?
His ability to communicate on the floor is at a little bit of a higher level, because he has a better feel not just offensively, but defensively — not just what he should do, but what he should be telling his teammates to do, especially if he’s on the backside or bottom side of the defense, because he sees everything in front of him.
asserted
he → communicate → him
“He’s one of those players that needs to take a step forward.”
asserted
that → ’ → step
Given how much money the Knicks have invested in their starting lineup — and with extension decisions to make regarding Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Hart and McBride — the bench is composed of budget options or veterans on minimum deals that the Knicks expect to perform above their pay grade, which they certainly did during their championship run last year.
asserted
they → give → run
It would be extremely helpful, with the Knicks operating under an edict from owner James Dolan to stay under the second apron, if Diawara becomes part of that group.
asserted
Diawara → operate → group
The Aporia
