Knicks Morning News (2025.07.16)

I wrote a long post towards the end of yesterday’s thread comparing pre-draft Siakam to Diawara.

At 20 years old (they were both born in April) Siakam was preparing to enter his freshman year at New Mexico State. He went on to have an excellent year statistically, especially in regard to rebounding, medium-usage efficient scoring, and shot-blocking. But according to the report I read, he only made 3 perimeter shots (jumpers) all year, and for his entire 2-year college career he was 3-17 from 3.

In watching Siakam’s college film, what stood out is his elite burst and coordination, especially in transition, including timing and footwork. Even with those long arms and legs, he didn’t look gangly at all, like Diawara looks right now.

The main differences I see with Diawara…he looks like he just had a growth spurt and isn’t used to his arms and legs yet. He gets pushed around in the paint, is a bit slow to react to situations. I watched a lot of the 2+ hour video of his play at Cholet, and it seems like he had license to do whatever he wanted, launching 3’s at will, taking ill-advised drives, etc. I like the motor but it is not elite and coordinated like Siakam’s was. His footwork is mediocre, and he’s gotten blown by in summer league by both smaller and bigger players.

However, I feel pretty confident in saying that he has a very good feel for the game, maybe better than the feel he has for his body. In summer league, even though he handled the ball quite a bit and made a bunch of passes in traffic, he has only 3 TOs in 66 minutes. The mechanics on his shot aren’t horrible, yesterday he hit a very Siakam-looking midrange shot. He clearly loves to defend, especially out high on the perimeter.

I see a sure-fire NBA rotation player in this 20yo kid. Not an elite player like Siakam, but I think that based on what I’m seeing in summer league, my initial take that his floor is Precious Achiuwa is pretty accurate. As to his ceiling, it’s all about where he tops out in his development. I would like to see that development occur here rather in Europe, because it seems like he has developed some bad habits there and it would be better to not let those habits get ingrained. I would 100% give him that rookie deal and play him mostly in the G-League, which I think has gotten better in terms of a good place for players to develop NBA-transferrable habits.

As to Kolek, I will continue to believe that Summer League is just not a place where a player like him can thrive. He was getting double-teamed on inbounds plays and many times when he crossed the midcourt line.

Kolek is the kind of PG that needs good players on the floor with him. He’s the quintessential pass-first PG, and when he doesn’t have anyone to pass to and the defense can key on him, he’s not nearly as effective as a score-first PG.

I think the offense will not be an issue. What I was mostly looking for is defensive development, and while summer league players are obviously easier to defend, I really liked what I saw. He has to be able to keep his body in front of bigger players and to develop Brunson’s knack for drawing offensive fouls. He needs to be better in jumping passing lanes and making quick rotations. What will keep him off the floor more than anything else is if he gets targeted and exploited on every defensive possession, and I think he knows that.

I think he will be just fine.

If we’re worried about Kolek based on SL performance, imagine how Rockets fans are feeling about #3 pick Reed Sheppard, who is shooting 36-32-70 and is averaging 2.5 assista to 4.5 TOVs.

On another note, Hukporti is averaging nearly 15 rebs/36 and 4 blocks/36. Also nearly 8 fouls/36, so there’s that.

“There’s zero question that Diawara’s peak in the NBA could be below where Precious is.

Care around the term “floor” is important.”

Well sure, in absolute terms, his “floor” is below Achiuwa. I’m only sharing an opinion that based on what I’m seeing, I’d be very surprised if he tops out at that level, because it would mean that his development completely stalled at nearly the level he is as a young 20yo. I think it’s a certainty that he will become stronger, smarter, and more coordinated (footwork-wise) than he is right now. So to top out at Precious’s level would mean that he hardly has any development re: his shooting, dribbling, rebounding, defense, or b-ball IQ/court awareness. In other words, it seems reasonable to me that he will very probably get to at least the Precious level just by inertia, and that stalling below that level would be an outlier outcome. He already seems to have a better feel for the game and passing chops than Precious has right now.

Honestly, it’s more of an indictment of Precious than a compliment to Diawara. Precious has demonstrated that he’s not really a legit rotation player on a good team in the NBA, mainly because his development totally stalled at age 22. He has all the physical measurables and athleticism to have become a better player, but the combination of a broken shot and poor feel for the game has created a lower ceiling for him than was expected when he was drafted at #20.

“I’m not worried about Kolek because of SL, I’m worried about Kolek because his lack of athleticism has been a concern for a long time and SL is reinforcing that as a legitimate worry.”

Well of course that’s a worry, and always will be. He’s not gonna get more athletic.

The question is, how does a player with Kolek’s athleticism carve out a niche as an effective NBA player? Who are the role models? What does he need to improve on to get there?

I don’t think you can take away much from SL in terms of answering those questions. Pre-season will be a much better indicator.