He Knicks They rested their starters on Tuesday, but couldn’t avoid an unfortunate preseason injury.
Landry Shamet suffered a serious right shoulder injury in the third quarter of New York’s preseason victory over Charlotte.
He injured his shoulder while defending Moussa Diabate on a trip The 27-year-old appeared to be in severe pain following the injury. He went straight to the Knicks locker room with a trainer.
Entering Tuesday night, Shamet had a great chance to make the Knicks’ regular season roster. New York needed a player with his perimeter shot, particularly after the trade. Donte Di Vincenzo to Minnesota in the Karl-Anthony Towns deal.
Tom Thibodeau has praised Shamet for his work and performance in preseason. 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 extended absence mean for the Knicks?
The 27-year-old is on a Schedule 9 contract. So if his injury is significant, the Knicks could waive him and incur a $15,000 salary cap hit. The club could then have room under the second apron to add another player at a veteran minimum and turn a two-way player into a standard contract.
Barring injury, great man Ariel Hukporti it is likely to convert. If the Knicks convert Hukporti, they would have 13 players on traditional deals. Shamet would be the 14th player.
So if Shamet is out 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., according to people familiar with the matter.
New York signed Morris Sr. to an Exhibit 10 contract before training camp. They had to give up Morris Sr. to execute the Towns trade. Morris Sr. later declined an invitation to the Knicks’ training camp.
Even after he rejected the camp offer, some in the club viewed Morris Sr. as a strong piece and a potential in-season addition.
If Shamet is out for an extended period, the Knicks could also opt to keep the veteran T.J. Warren if they can sign him and stay under the second apron. Chuma Okeke would also be an option.
However, neither 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 was going to 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. Obviously, doing so would leave the club without personnel on the bench.
The most important factor when adding a player to the roster is the second baseman, which accounts for $188.9 million in team salary. The Knicks’ team salary cannot exceed the second apron this season; They were limited on the second platform after the Mikal Bridges trade.
If the Knicks had kept Shamet on the roster and converted Hukporti, they would be roughly $300,000 short of the second apron, according to salary cap expert Yossi Gozlan.
