2024 NBA Draft: Breaking Down New York Knicks Draft Class

The New York Knicks had a couple draft picks in this past draft and added a ton of versatility through the draft. How will they fit the organization?

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Knicks have a very Villanova-like roster with the addition of Mikal Bridges, including also have Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and Donte DiVincenzo. The Knicks made the conference finals a year ago while dealing with some major injuries but with an improved roster that will finally be healthy they will be looking to make a run at an NBA championship next season. They drafted three players that could have a major impact for this organization.

Let’s dive into each selection they made and the summary of their draft:

No. 25: Pacome Dadiet

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

With their only selection in the first round the Knicks selected Pacome Dadiet who’s a French wing that was considered one of the top international prospects in the draft. The 6-foot-8 wing offers a ton of upside and two-way ability that the Knicks would absolutely use.

Dadiet is a very good spot-up shooter as he has great touch and a very smooth looking jumper. He’s a legit shooter that does an exceptional job of spacing the floor and being a very good off-ball scorer. His defensive tools are very enticing as he has the potential to be a very good 3-and-D player. 

Dadiet has great physical tools and has the chance to be a great defender in the NBA. His upside is quite high as he has some enticing offensive attributes. He’s a good pull-up shooter with some legit scoring potential. Dadiet is also quite underrated as a passer. The next step for him is to improve his consistency.

No. 34: Tyler Kolek

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With one of the first picks in the second round the Knicks selected the veteran point guard out of Marquette. The 6-foot-2 lead guard has a chance to come in and bring valuable minutes off the bench. He’s a great playmaker that has phenomenal court vision and does a great job of creating open shots for teammates.

He has an advanced feel for the game and does a great job of playing with a ton of poise. Kolek is very good out of the pick and roll as he plays with great pace, uses his dribble wisely and consistently picks defenses apart out of the pick and roll. He was comfortably one of the pick and roll players in this entire draft which goes well with lob threats like Mitchell Robinson and Jericho Sims.

Kolek is also a solid scorer that’s a capable shooter from behind the arc. He nearly shot 40% from three. The skilled lead guard is very offensive oriented and could be one of the top backup point guards in the entire NBA at some point in his career. Defensively he will have to improve although his lack of physical and athletic tools limit him on that end.

No. 56: Kevin McCullar Jr

Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal / USA

With one of the final picks in the 2024 NBA Draft the Knicks elected to continue to add to their great wing depth by drafting Kevin McCullar Jr out of Kansas. The 6-foot-6 wing is one of the best wing defenders in the entire draft. He has great physical tools, defensive anticipation and versatility that allows him to be a defensive stopper.

Defense will be his calling card but he’s more than just a defender. This past season McCullar showed he’s a capable shooter from behind the arc which shows some potential as a 3-and-D wing if his shooting becomes more consistent.

What scouts love about the defensive wing is that he’s a solid playmaker and plays incredibly unselfish. He understands his role and does his best to excel at that role. McCullar isn’t much of a scorer or a tough shot-maker but at the next level that likely will never be his role.

Draft Summary

The Knicks had a pretty solid offseason this year and in the draft it was quite solid as well. They took two proven college players that could be very good role players in the NBA in Kolek and McCullar while also swinging for a high upside pick in Dadiet.

It’s unlikely we see a lot of minutes from any of these players during their rookie year due to how deep they are at the wing position in how many point guard’s the Knicks already have on their roster. In the grand scheme of things after a couple of years there’s a real chance at least two of these players are key parts to their rotation.

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