The Knicks rested his starters on Tuesday but couldn’t avoid an unfortunate preseason injury.
Landry Shamet suffered a major right shoulder injury in the third quarter of New York’s preseason win over Charlotte.
He hurt his shoulder defending Moussa Diabate on a drive. The 27-year-old appeared to be in significant pain following the injury. He went straight to the Knick locker room with a trainer.
Entering Tuesday night, Shamet had a very strong chance to make the Knicks’ regular season roster. New York needed a player with their perimeter shooting, especially after a trade Donte DiVincenzo to Minnesota in the Karl-Anthony Towns an agreement
Tom Thibodeau praised Shamet for his preseason work and performance. If healthy, he would likely be in the Knicks’ regular season rotation.
That makes this shoulder injury important for New York. What would Shamet’s long-term absence mean for the Knicks?
The 27-year-old is signed to an Exhibit 9 contract. So if his injury is serious, the Knicks could waive him and pull in a $15,000 cap hit. The club could then have room under the second apron to add another player on a veteran minimum and convert a two-way player to a standard contract.
Barring injury, big man Ariel Hukporti likely to convert. If the Knicks were to convert Hukporti, they would have 13 players on traditional deals. Shamet would be the 14th player.
So if Shamet is gone long-term, New York would likely look to sign another veteran player for that 14th spot. Before Shamet’s injury, there was some internal support to add Marcus Morris Sr., for people familiar with the matter.
New York signed Morris Sr. to Exhibit 10 agreement before training camp. They had to give up on Morris Sr. to carry out the Towns business. Morris Sr. then declined a training camp invitation from the Knicks.
Even after he declined the camp offer, some with the club looked to Morris Sr. as a strong depth piece and a potential in-season addition.
If Shamet is out for an extended period, the Knicks could also opt to keep a veteran TJ Warren if they can sign him and stay under the second apron. Chuma Okeke would be an option as well.
However, none of these players would be a perfect replacement for Shamet’s shooting. That’s one factor that makes Shamet’s injury so costly for New York. He will fill a clear need and play an important role off the bench.
Depending on the severity of Shamet’s shoulder injury, New York could decide to keep him on the regular-season roster while he rehabs. Doing so would obviously leave the club short on the bench.
The biggest factor in adding any player to the roster is the second apron, which is $188.9 million in team salary. The Knicks’ team salary cannot exceed the second apron this season; they became hard at the second apron following the Mikal Bridges business
If the Knicks kept Shamet on the roster and converted Hukporti, they would be about $300,000 under the second apron, according to cap expert Yossi Gozlan.
