Knicks Work Out Two 6’9 Prospects Ahead of NBA Draft
With the New York Knicks already looking to contend next season, they have been looking at some of the older prospects in the upcoming 2025 NBA draft as their options at the No. 50 pick.
According to Hoopshype’s pre-draft workout tracker, the Knicks have brought in 20-year-old French forward Mohamed Diawara and 22-year-old wing Jonathan Pierre to their training facility in Westchester.
Diawara measured 6’9” in shoes with a 7’4” wingspan and 9’2” standing reach at the Adidas Euro Camp last year. He brings elite physical tools and defensive versatility, but his offensive skillset is still raw based on NBADraft.net’s scouting report.
Diawara won a gold medal with France in the Under-20 EuroBasket last year, averaging 7.0 points on 51.4% field goal shooting, 3.7 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 19.3 minutes per game as a starter.
The scouting report added that that he has elite positional size and tools for a modern forward in the NBA. But it will take some time before he can contribute though he’s been playing professionally for three years in France.
“I feel like I’m a big guard,” Diawara told NBADraft.net. “I can the ball like a guard and, that’s what I think I’m way better right now.”
Diawara averaged 5.8 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.4 assists in his first season with Cholet at LNB Elite, France’s pro league. But he only shot 38.3% from the field and 31% from the 3-point line.
Mohamed Diawara Claims Defense is His Best Skillset
Diawara views himself as an all-around player who can play one through five on offense and he’s a willing passer. But what he wants to be known for is his defense.
“I think it’s defense, for sure,” Diawara told NBADraft.net when asked what is his best skillset and what he can contribute to winning. “You cannot win games if you’re not defending. So I feel like it is making stop.
“The one thing that you need to win game and the main thing I do best … I think I pressure the ball full court.”
With his long wingspan, he can be a disruptor on the defensive end in the NBA once he gets polished and become a rotation player.
If the Knicks take a flier on Diawara, he will join his countryman Pacome Dadiet, last year’s 25th overall pick in the team.
Jonathan Pierre is More NBA-Ready
On the other hand, Pierre has an NBA-ready body, measuring 6’9.25” with a 7’0.5” wingspan on a 215-pound frame at the G League Draft Combine.
The Belmont Bruins star is also a more polished player compared to Diawara.
Pierre was selected to the Missouri Valley Conference All-Conference First Team this past season after averaginfg 13.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists with 1.2 stocks (steals and blocks). He shot a solid 36.9% clip from the college 3-point line on six attempts per game.
Pierre hopes to become the third MVC All-Conference First Team to get into the NBA after former Knicks wing Landry Shamet and Houston Rockets starting point guard Fred VanVleet.
Jamaill Hines at No Ceilings NBA was impressed with Pierre’s versatility as a pick-and-roll player aside from his solid 3-point shooting for his size. Hines noted that Pierre was ranked in the 87th percentile in points per possession as the pick-and roll handler, per Synergy.
“Because of his feel and passing ability, NBA teams should consider getting Pierre some short roll reps as well, where he’s capable of hitting the mid-range jumper or making the right decision,” Hines wrote.
