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Catching Strays | Knicks to decline Pacome Dadiet’s 4th Year option: report
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- Catching Strays | Knicks to decline Pacome Dadiet’s 4th Year option: report
This is Catching Strays, the Daily News' regular Knicks rundown for the quotes, stats and storylines that didn't make a headline.
Today: Pacome Dadiet's option, Jose Alvarado out again, Tyler Kolek's turnover-free start, the Grizzlies at 5-0, and Angel Reese's big shot
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Knicks reportedly set decline Dadiet's option
The Knicks plan to decline the 21-year-old French prospect Pacome Dadiet's fourth-year option, ESPN's Shams Charania reported on Thursday. The option was worth about $5.37 million for the 2027-28 NBA season, a modest increase from the tick under $3 million he is scheduled to make this season.
Passing on the option puts the 2024 No. 25 pick on track for unrestricted free agency next summer. Dadiet has appeared in one game this season, for one minute, and the Knicks were unsuccessful in finding trade suitors in conversations this offseason. Dadiet has career averages of 1.6 points on 25.5% shooting from 3-point range.
Analysis:This was always coming. Dadiet isn't a $5.4 million player — not now, and without big improvements, not ever. The Knicks drafted him as a project and got him to take less than the rookie scale maximum because they were up against the second apron. He has spent more time in Westchester than in New York and hasn't come close to cracking a rotation begging for depth on the wings in Year 3. Dadiet has taken some strides this year, but not enough to keep him at that price tag. That $5.37 million is basically taxpayer mid-level money, and it's better spent on someone who can be an impact player immediately. He's a trade candidate, but the market for him has been cold and will likely be salary filler for the Knicks should they need to aggregate salaries to complete a deal.
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Alvarado out again
The Knicks officially ruled backup guard Jose Alvarado out with a left ankle sprain for Friday's matchup in Philadelphia. It marked Alvarado's fourth consecutive missed game. He last played Oct. 23 and has sat against Orlando, Detroit and Chicago.
Brunson's SVU date
Jalen Brunson guest stars in Season 28, Episode 5 of "Law & Order: SVU," which airs Thursday, Nov. 5, at 9 p.m. ET on NBC. He plays Detective Madison. The episode streams on Peacock the next day.
Kolek's clean start
Tyler Kolek hasn't turned the ball over this season. Through three games, Oct. 25-28, he has 21 assists and zero turnovers in 44.7 minutes. That counts games of 10 or more minutes.
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In Wednesday's win at Chicago, Kolek's net rating of plus-13 tied Landry Shamet for second on the Knicks, behind Jordan Clarkson's plus-15, and his nine assists led the team.
Last spring, Miles McBride went seven straight playoff games without a turnover, from May 8 to June 3, 2026, with 12 assists in 132 minutes.
Kolek needs four more games to match McBride's mark.
Around the league: Grizzlies 5-0, Morant hurt, Edwards' knee, Game 7
Memphis stayed perfect Thursday night, beating Ja Morant's Portland Trail Blazers, 124-103, in Portland to go 5-0. Rookie Cameron Boozer led the way with a triple-double: 18 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists.
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Morant left his first game against his former team in the fourth quarter with a left hamstring injury and did not return. He had 14 points in 23 minutes.
Damian Lillard came into Thursday having scored 25, 19 and 21 in his previous three games, all Portland wins. Memphis held him to nine points on 3-for-13, including 1-of-9 from 3.
Among the rookies, Darius Acuff Jr. is averaging 24.0 points through five games, including games of 34 and 33. Boozer is at 15.4 through five, and Darryn Peterson is at 12.8 through five. AJ Dybantsa has played one game, scoring 19.
The Timberwolves said Anthony Edwards had a successful arthroscopic procedure on his right knee Thursday and is expected to make a full recovery. The team gave no timeline. ESPN reported he could miss up to two months. Edwards had scored 133 points through four games, a franchise record.
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The WNBA Finals are going the distance. Atlanta beat Golden State, 80-69, Thursday to tie the series 3-3, behind Allisha Gray's 23 points on 5-for-7 from 3. Game 7 is Saturday at 8 p.m. ET at Golden State.
