He Knicks they are giving up the guard Landry Shametforward T.J. Warrenand forward Chuma Okekethe team announced Saturday.
Shamet suffered a dislocated shoulder in Tuesday’s preseason game against the Charlotte Hornets, which the team said they are still evaluating.
There is initial optimism that Shamet can avoid surgery. The Knicks can maintain roster flexibility early in the season while Shamet rehabs to give them room to re-sign him. If it is determined he needs surgery, I assume the Knicks will fill the roster spot with another player.
Shamet was on a Schedule 9 contract. By waiving him Saturday, the Knicks were only responsible for $15,000 of the veteran’s $2.1 million salary.
Shamet’s salary is reduced by $15,000 per day once the season begins so the Knicks can re-sign him at a total salary less than his veteran’s minimum of $2.1 million during the season. This would help the team create more space under the second deck if they decide to re-sign Shamet.
The Knicks’ team salary cannot exceed second apron ($188.9 million) this season. They are limited on the second platform due to the Mikal Bridges trade.
After Saturday’s cuts, the Knicks’ team salary is approximately $3.5 million below the second apron. They would have enough room to re-sign Shamet or another veteran and convert one of the rookies they drafted to a traditional contract.
It would be premature at this point to say that the Knicks hope to re-sign Shamet.
New York went through a complex process last season with Julio RandleThe shoulder injury, so the club knows how complicated this injury can be. Shamet suffered the injury five days ago. It’s probably too early for the Knicks or Shamet to know if he can fully return.
With Shamet’s situation still unclear and the Knicks open to bringing him back, New York had no cap space to retain Warren and re-sign Shamet. Warren had supporters among the Knicks coaches and front office to make the regular season roster. The veteran wing will join the Westchester Knicks, New York’s G-League team, SNY has learned. He will likely be on the list to rejoin the club during the season if the need arises.
The Knicks begin the 2024-25 regular season on Tuesday, October 22 against the Boston Celtics.
New York currently has 12 players on traditional contracts. According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, they are allowed to have fewer than 14 players on their roster for a short period of time. They can have fewer than 14 players on the roster for 28 days in total and no more than 14 consecutive days.
So the Knicks could carry 12 players through Nov. 4. At that point, they would have to sign a player to a traditional contract.
Before Shamet’s injury, the Knicks were expected to convert the big man Ariel Hukporti from a two-way contract to a traditional agreement. I assume they will continue to convert Hukporti and re-sign Shamet or add another veteran to get to 14 players.
With Shamet, Okeke and Warren out, the Knicks bench consists of Pacome Dadiet, Miles McBride, Tyler Kolek, Cam Payne, Beautiful Achiuwa, Jericho Sims and two-way player Jacob Toppin. It will be interesting to see how the club and the coach Tom Thibodeau manage bench minutes and rotations early in the season.
THE BROWN WILL BE AROUND
Center Moses Brown will join the Westchester Knicks this season, SNY has learned. The 7-foot-2 center was in training camp with the Knicks this year. He had signed an Exhibit 10 agreement, which gives a player a financial incentive to join a team’s G League club. Brown, 25, was previously with the Knicks on a two-way deal in 2023.