The New York Knicks plan to decline Pacome Dadiet’s fourth-year team option worth $5.37 million, making the 21-year-old forward an unrestricted free agent next summer, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Thursday.
The decision will create salary-cap space for New York next season. However, it does not necessarily end Dadiet’s time with the organization, as the Knicks and the player could still discuss a new contract after he enters free agency in June.
Dadiet was selected by the Knicks with the 25th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. He has struggled to establish a regular role in the NBA, appearing in 18 games as a rookie and 29 games during the 2025-26 season.
He averaged 1.7 points and 1.0 rebound in 6.2 minutes per game in his first NBA campaign, shooting 32.3% from the field and 31.6% from three-point range. Last season, he again averaged 1.7 points, alongside 0.9 rebounds and 0.4 assists, while playing just 4.8 minutes per contest.
Dadiet has shown more offensive production with the Westchester Knicks in the G League. He averaged 13.9 points in 23 appearances during the 2024-25 season before increasing his scoring output to 22.2 points per game across 19 games in 2025-26. He shot 45% from the field and 32.5% from beyond the arc in the latter campaign.
His opportunities with New York have remained limited at the start of the 2026-27 season. Dadiet has appeared in one game, playing one minute without attempting a shot.
Declining the option gives the Knicks additional financial flexibility while leaving open the possibility of bringing Dadiet back under a different contract.
