If you’re on social media, you probably noticed that the Knicks’ PR page was going into overdrive on Thursday, announcing various signings to Exhibit 10 contracts before being cut hours (or even minutes)
later. While it might seem odd, you can find examples of this in prior years as well:
So what’s the big deal? Why do NBA teams do this every preseason?
Well, it’s as simple as acquiring their G-League rights. The NBA allows teams to designate four waived players as “affiliate players”. Now, players have a say in said decision, but if they sign a G-League contract, they’ll be assigned to the Westchester Knicks. But if you’re willingly signing an Exhibit 10 on the final day of the preseason, this reality has likely been communicated to you, so all of this is planned out. More information regarding eligibility and salary can be found here.
The Knicks signed and waived five players on Thursday, which is one above that limit. That said, I’d assume you find all five of them make their way to Westchester in the coming days.
Donovan Williams is no stranger to Westchester, as the 6’6” guard spent the 2024-25 season with the Knicks’ G-League affiliate. Williams was an undrafted free agent out of UNLV in 2022 and spent time with the G-League affiliates of the Nets, Hawks, and Warriors. He made his NBA debut on April 4, 2023, and scored four points in four minutes across two games with the Hawks that year. In Westchester last season, he averaged 19 points and 4.7 rebounds on 45.5% from the field and 39.8% from three in 19 games.
Isaiah Roby is a familiar name, as he spent time with the Knicks during training camp in 2023. After losing a competition for the last roster spot, he played nine games in Westchester, averaging 13.8 points and 9.4 rebounds on 42.9% from the field and 41.5% from three. The former No. 45 pick in 2019 has 151 games of NBA experience with the Thunder and Spurs from 2020 to 2023.
Adama Bal briefly made it four Frenchmen on the Knicks’ roster, joining Pačome Dadiet, Mo Diawara, and Guerschon Yabusele. Bal was born in France, but played four years of college with Arizona and Santa Clara before going undrafted and signing to play in France in July. The 6’7” guard made two All-WCC First Teams.
Romeo Langford might be the most well-known name here. The former No. 14 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft out of Indiana was a big disappointment for the Celtics across three seasons, only playing 94 games and only making 11 starts before he was traded to the Spurs in the infamous Derrick White trade. From there, he played just 47 more games in the NBA before going overseas in 2024, spending time in France for BCM Gravelines-Dunkerque last year.
Ibrahima Diallo is a Senegal native who played five collegiate seasons across three programs. After being a benchwarmer with Ohio State for two years, he transferred to San Jose State, where he led the Mountain West in blocks in 2022-23 before playing his fifth year at UCF, leading the Big 12 in blocks. The 6’10” big was a regular for the Spurs’ G-League affiliate last year, averaging 5.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks in 32 games.