KNICKS SIGN FIRST-ROUND PICK FOR LESS THAN STANDARD ROOKIE SCALE AMOUNT
The Knicks have finalized a buyout with Ratiopharm Ulm, Pacome Dadiet‘s team in Germany, clearing the way for them to sign their first-round pick to his rookie scale contract, reports Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.
Interestingly, according to Fred Katz of The Athletic, the Knicks have signed Dadiet to a contract that will be worth 80% of the standard rookie scale amount for the No. 25 pick, instead of the usual 120%. That’s the minimum allowed for a first-round pick.
As our breakdown of rookie scale salaries shows, a “maximum” rookie scale contract for Dadiet would’ve started at $2,712,120. However, 80% of his rookie scale amount will work out to a first-year salary of $1,808,080. As Katz notes, that’ll give the team about $904K in extra spending flexibility below its second-apron hard cap for 2024-25.
An NBA team is permitted to pay up to $850K to a player’s international team as part of a buyout agreement in 2024-25 without that amount counting against its cap. The NBA club would be permitted to pay more than that, but any amount above $850K would count against the player’s cap hit. For instance, a $1M buyout for a player who will earn a $2M salary would result in a $2,150,000 cap hit.
League sources tell Ian Begley of SNY.tv that the Knicks, not coincidentally, paid exactly $850K to Ratiopharm Ulm, meaning Dadiet’s cap hit will be equivalent to his salary and won’t include any portion of his buyout.
This is likely an arrangement the Knicks discussed with Dadiet and his representatives before selecting him rather than springing a lower offer on him after drafting him.
The 18-year-old French wing averaged 6.4 points and 1.6 rebounds in 14.9 minutes per game across 18 EuroCup appearances for Ulm last season.
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2024-07-04T17:55:38Z dg43tfdfdgfd