Last year’s Knicks Summer League team was a bit of a drag.
No disrespect to Charlie Brown Jr., the Knicks’ top contributor last year in Las Vegas, but there was little hope any of those players would make an impact on the actual Knicks (OK, maybe that’s a little disrespectful to Charlie Brown Jr.).
But the problem was obvious. The Knicks had just one draft pick over four rounds in the previous two years, and that went to Trevor Keels — the No. 42 overall choice from 2022 who had conditioning issues and has logged eight total minutes in the NBA.
This version of the Summer Knicks is worth watching.
The Knicks made four draft choices last month, and we’re hoping they’re all available in Vegas — along with an intriguing 2021 second-round pick. The first game is Saturday (5 p.m. ET) against the Hornets, who have Brandon Miller, the 2023 No. 2 overall pick.
Here’s a breakdown of the key Knicks we anticipate will be part of the Summer League roster, which has yet to be officially announced:
Rokas Jokubaitis
Age: 23
Position: Combo Guard
Why you should care: The 34th overall pick in 2021 finally may be attempting a move to the NBA. He has been stashed overseas the past three years, but reports suggest he’s ready to leave Euro powerhouse Barcelona with his playing time diminishing. He’s more of a scorer than facilitator, and there’s a strong pedigree as a contributor to the Lithuanian national team. He would have been playing at the Olympics this summer, but Lithuania failed last week in the qualifiers. Now he’s coming back to Vegas, where he played a few games for the Knicks as a 20-year-old.
Pacôme Dadiet
Age: 18
Position: Wing
Why you should care: He’s the only Knicks first-round pick since Quentin Grimes in 2021, and there’s a lot of mystery. Initially speculated as a draft-and-stash, Dadiet signed with the Knicks — he’s guaranteed through at least the 2025-26 season — and negotiated a deal at just 80 percent of the money of the rookie scale (as an aside, Dadiet may want to rethink his choice of agent). Logic indicates Dadiet, a Frenchman, will spend much of the upcoming season in the G League. But it’s tough to project the path of an 18-year-old — especially when the only competition he’s faced is overseas. Vegas is going to be a window into the upside.
Tyler Kolek
Age: 23
Position: Guard
Why you should care: Should be the most ready-made Knicks draft pick after spending four years in college, where he was a two-time First Team All-Big East selection at Marquette. Kolek, who was taken 34th overall last month, signed through the 2026-27 season, so somebody important with the Knicks believes in his NBA future. There’s also a possibility for a role next season with no clear backup point guard behind Jalen Brunson. He’s been compared to Indiana’s T.J. McConnell, and the Knicks would love that type of player.
Ariel Hukporti
Age: 22
Position: Center
Why you should care: The Knicks are thin at center, and Hukporti, if the 58th pick proves himself capable, potentially could see time on the senior roster. He fits the mold of a Tom Thibodeau center in that he’s strong, plays hard and isn’t expected to do much offensively. We’ll get a better idea in Vegas whether Hukporti’s physicality will translate to the NBA.
Kevin McCullar Jr.
Age: 23
Position: Wing
Why you should care: There isn’t a spot for a wing in the Knicks rotation, at least while everybody is healthy. But there’s a world where depth is needed at wing (OG Anunoby isn’t the most durable player, after all) and perhaps McCullar gets a chance. I’m anticipating McCullar will put up big numbers in Vegas. He’s got a lot to prove after falling to No. 56 in the draft — well below projections before he suffered a knee injury last season with Kansas.
Jacob Toppin
Age: 24
Position: Power forward
Why you should care: Toppin missed last year’s Summer League because of a “minor injury,” the Knicks said at the time, but he thrived in the G League and stuck with the senior roster through the playoffs. He’s a potential highlight reel — though not quite at the level of his brother, Obi — and will get his first chance on national television to showcase (the Knicks’ opener in Vegas is on ESPN2).
Good judgments
There’s been a lot of criticism over the years about who Thibodeau is or isn’t playing, especially while it’s happening. Most of the time, it’s about who is on the bench.
That’s just a natural part of fandom. Even if you can’t dunk or break a Jrue Holiday full-court press, there’s a foolhardy belief you can devise a game plan or substitution pattern better than the dimwit coach.
Enough.
After four years on the job, it’s time to just trust Thibodeau’s judgment on player evaluations. Kemba Walker’s retirement last week prompted me to compile a list of players — supplied with mostly bleak “Where are they now?” updates — who were excommunicated from Thibodeau’s rotation. There really only have been two half-misses.
Kemba Walker
The Bronx legend was removed from the Knicks rotation just a few months after his homecoming signing in 2021, then left the team entirely at the All-Star break. He managed to appear in just nine NBA games after that. At 34 years old, he’s done playing professionally and has joined the Hornets coaching staff.
Cam Reddish
Acquired for his upside in exchange for a first-round pick in 2021, Reddish was among the two players — along with Obi Toppin — whom Thibodeau was most harshly critiqued for holding back. But the past 1 ½ years have reinforced the coach’s decision to leave Reddish on the bench. Now 24, Reddish is firmly attached to a bust label. He recently picked up a $2.5 million option with the Lakers for next season, presumably because he couldn’t command more in the open market.
Evan Fournier
After collecting a healthy collection of DNPs and a lot of salary under Thibodeau, Fournier was traded to the Pistons and shot 37% in 29 games to end last season. Detroit declined to pick up Fournier’s contract option, and now he’s in free agency without a commitment yet. Fournier’s only 31 years old.
Obi Toppin
Had a consistent role as the backup power forward, but wanted more and Thibodeau never believed in a lineup with Toppin and Julius Randle on the floor together. Toppin was traded to the Pacers for peanuts and produced efficiently in Rick Carlisle’s up-tempo system, but he also was removed from the starting lineup. He just agreed to a four-year, $60 million contract — about the going rate for a backup these days (which is the same role Toppin had on the Knicks).
Derrick Rose
A longtime Thibodeau favorite whose body failed him too many times. In their last season together, Thibodeau placed Rose deep on the bench despite some hope he could have contributed as Brunson’s backup. Rose then signed with the Grizzlies and managed to play just 24 games last season. He has another year on his contract and then that’s probably it for the youngest MVP in NBA history.
Kevin Knox
The former lottery pick was already considered a disappointment when Thibodeau took over. Now Knox is out of the league at 24 years old. The latest news had him joining the Warriors for Summer League, but Knox reportedly pulled out because of a calf strain.
Dennis Smith Jr.
Smith’s chance with Thibodeau was immediately derailed after starting at point guard in preseason Game 1 of 2020-21. His basketball career was nearly finished a couple years ago — he even contemplated transitioning to the NFL — but Smith reinvented himself as a defensive specialist and latched on with the Nets last season. He’s currently an unrestricted free agent. Smith joins Toppin as one of Thibodeau’s half-misses.
