The New York Knicks initially believed Landry Shamet would remain on the team after he signed a non-guaranteed deal in the offseason.
He made a strong impression at training camp, earning praise from Tom Thibodeau, and performed well in his first preseason game, hitting 4-of-8 three-pointers for 16 points. However, things took a turn in the Knicks’ second preseason game against the Hornets when Shamet suffered a shoulder injury and had to leave for the locker room. Days later, the team announced he had dislocated his shoulder, but SNY’s Ian Begley reported there was “initial optimism” he could avoid surgery.
Though the Knicks had the option to keep Shamet on the roster since his contract wouldn’t become guaranteed until January, they chose to waive him. There’s still a possibility they could re-sign him during the regular season if he recovers well. Currently, the Knicks have 12 players on standard contracts and need to add at least two more in the next two weeks. Ariel Hukporti’s two-way contract is expected to be converted into a guaranteed deal, and New York could look to sign another player on a veteran’s minimum contract, similar to what they intended to do with Shamet.
On Tuesday afternoon, ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania disclosed that the Knicks hold “strong interest” in free agent Matt Ryan.
Reporting on NBA Today: A free-agent sharpshooter on the Knicks’ radar. pic.twitter.com/Z7ptQ6xj9q
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 22, 2024
Ryan appeared in 28 games for the Pelicans last season, averaging 5.4 points and 1.4 rebounds per game, with a career-high shooting percentage of 45.1% from beyond the arc. He has also played for the Celtics (2021-22), Lakers (2022-23), and Timberwolves (2022-23). While Ryan may not play significant minutes in Thibodeau’s rotation, he could still be valuable given the team’s lack of depth. He would help address a need for the Knicks, especially as the regular season kicks off tonight. Begley mentioned that Ryan was being considered for a potential two-way contract with the Knicks before Shamet’s injury. New York could convert Hukporti’s two-way deal to create room for Ryan while still having the option to re-sign Shamet to a veteran’s minimum contract if he recovers.
Prior to Landry Shamet injury, Matt Ryan had been on Knicks radar as a potential two-way player if/when they cleared a two-way spot, per sources. Ryan, a sharpshooter & former Iona Prep HS star, remains on NYK’s radar as a potential free agent addition, as ESPN earlier reported
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) October 22, 2024
The Knicks won’t be able to completely substitute for Donte DiVincenzo, who is currently a bench player for Minnesota. However, bringing in some additional shooting would be beneficial. It’s also a nice bonus that Ryan is a New Yorker and attended Iona Prep.
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