With all of their starters and most of the players you’d pay to see at Madison Square Garden sitting out Monday night, the players on the fringes of the roster and rotation had a chance to show what they could do — and the Knicks’ coaches and front office got an extended look at them on the court.
So what did they learn?
First, they got a clear view of why former coach Tom Thibodeau put his starters on the floor for extended minutes as the reserves — a deeper, improved bench from last season — fell behind by as many as 36 points in a one-sided loss to a shorthanded Washington Wizards squad at Madison Square Garden.
But the positive again was a chance for the players hoping to grab a spot in the rotation to fend off the trade rumors, to show the Knicks — or another team — that they’re ready for an NBA rotation spot.
Some did. Tyler Kolek put up 20 points and six assists without a turnover in 23 minutes. Some didn’t. Pacome Dadiet, whose contract and age don’t match up with the win-now window, got the starting assignment, played 25 minutes and after hitting his first two shots, missed the five that followed and struggled defensively.
“There’s urgency every single day,” Kolek said. “They say the hardest thing is not to get in this league, it’s to stay in this league. So you’re in here fighting and scrapping for yours while still trying to have a collective goal as a team, but every day you’re in here working on your individual game to put yourself in the best position.”
With the Knicks shopping contracts to try to clear cap space for at least two of the three veterans on non-guaranteed contracts — Malcolm Brogdon, Landry Shamet and Garrison Mathews — Kolek said he isn’t interested in auditioning for other teams.
“No, I mean my approach is to come out and try to win the game, come out and play hard for my team,” he said. “I’m not coming out here to show other people what I can do. I’m here for my guys, my team, my coaching staff.”
Both Kolek and Dadiet are under contract, not in danger of losing their spot — unless they are moved by the front office.
“Obviously, it’s always pressure,” Dadiet said. “But I don’t really look at stuff like this. I try to stay focused on basketball.”
Mike Brown gave Dadiet a start in the first preseason game when OG Anunoby sat out and put him in the starting five again Monday. Whether it was an opportunity or a showcase for the 6-7 20-year-old, he has not looked ready yet to contribute. Brown acknowledged after Monday’s game that time on the floor is what Dadiet needs, whether it is with the Knicks or in the G League.
“Just getting minutes, getting minutes,” Brown said. “I think the G League is fantastic for anybody so whether he’s getting minutes there or he’s getting minutes with us, just getting minutes in general is going to be great for him because he’s a really young guy. He’s got a chance to be really, really good — especially at his size, you can do a lot of things with it and so just getting playing time.”
Dadiet appeared in 18 games with the Knicks as a rookie last season and this season he has fellow French natives Guerschon Yabusele and Mo Diawara with him. Spending time with familiar faces certainly has provided some comfort and Yabusele has given him advice when he has struggled
“Keep shooting. That’s the best part about it,” Yubusele said. “Whether you want to take it or not, the shot’s going to be there and you’re gonna be open. And the teams will make adjustments.
“In this league, if somebody thinks you’re not a shooter, they’re going to leave you wide open. So you got to prove to them that you’re a shooter. You got to prove to them you have confidence. I remember being in this spot when I was in Boston and I wasn’t really playing, so I kind of get it, where he is right now. But you got to push. You got lots of guys here to learn from and talk to guys so we just try to give him confidence and make sure when he goes there he doesn’t think about nothing.”
