By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The New York Knicks have taken a modest first step toward defending their NBA championship by retaining French forward Mohamed Diawara.
According to a report on Monday by ESPN senior NBA insider Shams Charania on Monday, the restricted free agent has agreed to a multiyear contract worth upwards of $10 million. While the specific financial terms have not been formally finalized, the agreement secures the long-term future of the 21-year-old wing in New York after an encouraging rookie campaign.
Originally selected 51st overall in the 2025 NBA Draft, presented by State Farm, by the Los Angeles Clippers, the Paris native’s rights were subsequently traded to the Knicks. The French prospect initially signed an Exhibit 10 deal before it was converted into a standard one-year contract. That structure allowed him to hit restricted free agency earlier than typical draft choices, exposing the Knicks to the threat of rival teams placing aggressive offer sheets that could outprice them under the strict second-apron luxury tax rules. Facing strict salary cap boundaries, which capped their financial flexibility to counter any lucrative external proposals, this fresh arrangement must span four seasons priced closely to the veteran scale, allowing the franchise to remain below the punitive luxury tax thresholds.
Restricted free agent Mohamed Diawara intends to sign a multiyear, $10-plus million deal to return to the New York Knicks, sources tell ESPN. Diawara — the No. 51 pick in last year’s NBA draft — was part of the champion Knicks after spending the season on a standard contract. pic.twitter.com/ZwhQcHelMR
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 22, 2026
Across 75 total appearances spanning both the 2025-26 Regular Season and the 2026 NBA Playoffs, presented by Google, Diawara provided frontcourt depth by averaging 3.4 points per contest while showcasing a reliable shot from deep.
This commitment demonstrates management’s faith in the development of the 2.06-meter wing, who was part of the BKT EuroCup championship run of Paris early in the 2023–24 season.
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