New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown stated he is prioritizing veteran players to stabilize the team and return to winning ways, a strategy that has currently sidelined promising younger talent like forward Mo Diawara.
"It’s tough because going into the season early on, one of [the] things I wanted to experiment with is playing 10 or 10 ½ guys [as my rotation]," Brown said. "And Mo is in that mix. Mo and Pac. Give them different opportunities at different times. And we experimented with different stuff and our players not getting it done caused us to start off a little slow. So to get us on track, we’re going to hold the fort down with a veteran group of guys. Hopefully we get to the point sooner than later that I can start throwing those [young] guys out there."
The Knicks experienced a challenging start to the season, losing their first three games before securing their first win against the Pistons on Tuesday. Brown has previously indicated that his team's rotation is fluid and that spots can be earned or lost, a point underscored by a brief benching of Andre Drummond.
Before Wednesday's game against the Bulls, Brown's rotation had been relatively consistent, with Tyler Kolek seeing playing time due to Jose Alvarado's ankle sprain. With a healthy roster, the typical lineup appeared to be Jalen Brunson and Alvarado at guard, Mikal Bridges, Miles McBride, and Jordan Clarkson at shooting guard, Josh Hart and Landry Shamet at small forward, OG Anunoby at power forward, and Karl-Anthony Towns and Drummond at center.
Diawara, a second-round pick from last season who earned a new four-year, $11.3 million contract (partially guaranteed), has not been a consistent part of the rotation. His minutes were expected to go to Clarkson, who was the tenth man in the rotation. However, in the Knicks' victory over the Pistons, Brown utilized only nine players, resulting in Clarkson's first Did Not Play status.
"Our starting five is what it is," Brown stated. "But everybody else after that, until we find something that’s working consistently, I’m going to try to give different guys opportunities."
The team's roster construction, relying less on draft picks and more on veteran acquisitions, is a notable aspect. Following Mitchell Robinson's departure, McBride is the only homegrown draft pick currently in the rotation. Pacome Dadiet, the 25th pick in 2024, is out of the rotation and potentially facing free agency if the Knicks do not exercise his contract option by Saturday's deadline. Kevin McCullar Jr. (56th pick) was waived last week, and Ariel Hukporti (58th pick) joined the Sixers in free agency.
The team's financial strategy, influenced by the NBA's second apron rules, also impacts player acquisition. The Knicks traded out of the first round in the current year, opting for a less expensive approach. In 2024, they drafted Dadiet with the understanding he would sign for less money. A year prior, Diawara's contract was secured partly to remain under the salary cap, and his subsequent emergence into the rotation was unexpected. Now, Diawara must wait for the team to find its rhythm before receiving more playing time.