The New York Knicks and restricted free agent forward Mohamed Diawara have agreed to a contract worth more than $10 million, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Specific terms were not disclosed, but the Knicks possess only Diawara’s Non-Bird rights, which limit salary offers unless an exception is used. Because a three-year Non-Bird arrangement would fall short of the reported figure, league sources expect the agreement to span four years or involve one of New York’s available exceptions.
SNY’s Ian Begley reports the deal is not yet finalized but is expected to be completed soon. Begley added that several clubs had planned to pursue the 21-year-old in restricted free agency, a scenario that could have driven up his price and complicated New York’s cap situation.
The Knicks acquired Diawara’s rights from the Los Angeles Clippers on draft night last year, then signed the 6-foot-9 French forward to a one-year rookie-minimum contract to remain below the second-apron hard cap. That single-season deal allowed Diawara to reach restricted free agency earlier than most first-year players, who typically sign multiyear rookie contracts.
Diawara appeared in 69 regular-season games as a rookie, averaging 3.6 points and 1.4 rebounds in 9.2 minutes while shooting 36.9 percent from beyond the arc. New York could have as many as 10 players hit free agency this summer as the club prepares to defend its 2026-27 NBA championship.
Source: Hoops Rumors
