The New York Knicks have reached a deal with veteran guard Landry Shamet, according to ESPN. Shamet actually spent training camp with the Knicks and was initially considered a lock to make the roster. However, after suffering a dislocated shoulder in the preseason, the Knicks waived him in preparation for a possible reunion.
To make this reunion happen, they selected Shamet No. 2 overall in the G-League Draft. This way they would retain his rights and he could rehabilitate under their supervision with the Westchester Knicks. After playing in three games and averaging just under 11 points in Westchester, Shamet now looks healthy and ready to contribute for the big league Knicks.
Where exactly Shamet will fit in for the Knicks remains to be seen. The veteran shooting guard would have an obvious spot on most teams as a backup sharpshooter, but the Knicks already sit in second place in the standings. NBA with a 3-point percentage, hitting just under 40% of their triples this season, and with the #2 offense in the league, points haven’t exactly been valuable. Where they could really improve is their 3-point volume, as New York only ranks 20th in deep attempts this season. Introducing Shamet into the rotation could force the Knicks to take more 3s.
But coach Tom Thibodeau runs a notoriously short rotation, relying primarily on his starters to carry his teams through games. The Knicks are already giving reserve guards Deuce McBride and Cam Payne about 42 minutes combined per night, so Shamet may not see much playing time at first. Injuries are unfortunately a feature of the regular season, and having a backup scorer hanging around tends to be helpful. With Shamet and Precious Achiuwa now back, the Knicks are only waiting for the return of an injured player, Mitchell Robinson, to regain their full strength.
