Knicks finalize Mikal Bridges trade, create cap space for Isaiah Hartenstein replacement

The New York Knicks completed the blockbuster trade of Mikal Bridges to the Brooklyn Nets on July 4, creating the flexibility to sign a replacement for Isaiah Hartenstein.

Shams Charania of The Athletic was the first to report the news of the Knicks signing and trading Shake Milton as a salary add-on in the trade that allowed them to avoid being capped in the first round.

The latest details of the exchange:

The Knicks received: Mikal Bridges, Keïta Bates-Diop

Nets received: Bojan Bogdanovic, Shake Milton, Mamadi Diakite, 4 unprotected first-round picks (2025, 2027, 2029 and 2031), a protected first-round pick in 2025 (via Milwaukee Bucks), a swap of unprotected picks in 2028 and a second-round pick in 2025

According to Charania, the Knicks will sign Milton to a three-year, $9 million contract, with a minimum in the first year and two non-guaranteed years.

Key late-season signings help finalize trade

With minimum contract accruals not allowed in a trade under the new collective bargaining agreement, the Knicks will guarantee $1.23 million of Diakite’s $2.3 million contract, according to ESPN front office insider Bobby Marks.

Milton and Diakite were both late-season signings, which proved helpful to the Knicks in executing the Bridges trade to create more space under the salary cap.

The Knicks are now $16.9 million below the $188.9 million second cap with 11 players, according to salary cap expert Yossi Gozlan.

“They have enough flexibility to re-sign Precious Achiuwa and use the $5.2 million taxpayer mid-level exception,” Gozlan wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Re-signing Achiuwa and getting another big man using the taxpayer MLE could be the Knicks’ move to fill the void left by Hartenstein, who left for the Oklahoma City Thunder on a three-year, $87 million contract in free agency.

The center market has dried up, with only Daniel Theis, Cody Zeller, Omer Yurtseven, Richaun Holmes and Tristan Thompson still available as serviceable big men off the bench.

Knicks buy out rookie Pacome Dadiet’s contract with German club

In another move, the Knicks have bought out the contract of their 25th overall pick, Pacome Dadiet, from his German club Ratiopharm Ulm, signing him for next season, according to Fred Katz of The Athletic.

“Unexpected development: The Knicks signed first-round pick Pacome Dadiet at 80 percent of rookie level, league sources say. The move will save the Knicks a significant $904,000 under the 2024-25 salary cap. The Knicks also paid a buyout to his German team,” Katz wrote on X.

SNY’s Ian Begley reported that the Knicks paid Ratiopharm Ulm $850,000 as part of the buyout.

Dadiet, 18, said he plans to play in the NBA this season after the Knicks selected him in the first round.

“Honestly, the training went pretty well,” Dadiet said. “I knew they were interested, but until the last minute, I didn’t know where I was going. I’m really looking forward to starting work. I can’t wait.”

As it stands, the 6-foot-8 rookie forward is the 11th man on the Knicks’ roster.

The Knicks’ projected starting five consists of Jalen Brunson, Bridges, OG Anunoby, Julius Randle and Mitchell Robinson. Miles McBride, Donte DiVincenzo, Josh Hart, Jericho Sims, Bates-Diop and Dadiet make up their bench.

The Knicks have yet to sign second-round picks Tyler Kolek, Kevin McCullar Jr. and Ariel Hukporti.

With the Knicks having a deep rotation, Dadiet will likely spend the majority of his time next season in the G League with the Westchester Knicks developing his raw talent and athleticism.

“I think I’m really versatile, but I can also bring what a rookie needs to bring to a team,” Dadiet said. “Bring energy. Being able to get a rebound, push the ball but also knock down shots. I think that’s really important for a rookie to bring those things.”