Tom Thibodeau and the Knicks offered no further clarity on the severity of the shoulder injury Landry Shamet suffered Tuesday night at the Garden, but it said plenty that the veteran wing was spotted one day later wearing a sling over his right arm while walking into the team’s practice facility.
Shamet likely was going to be part of the Knicks bench rotation to open the season, but he clearly will need to be replaced for as long as he is sidelined.
“It’s very tough. Obviously, we’re praying for the best for him,” Jalen Brunson said after practice in Tarrytown. “It’s a difficult situation to see, but every minute I’ve been able to talk to him and compete with him during this camp. Just seeing him from afar for the past six years, being in the same draft class, he’s been nothing but a great professional.
“So regardless of what happened, he’ll be back and I’m excited to see his growth, because he’s been great.”
Thibodeau said the 27-year-old Shamet still was being evaluated by the team’s medical staff Wednesday after the six-year NBA veteran injured the shoulder while defending a drive by Charlotte’s Moussa Diabate in Tuesday’s third quarter.
With Brunson and the Knicks’ other projected starters not dressing for the game, the 6-foot-4 Shamet started and scored eight points in 20 minutes.
“We need the information first. I don’t wanna be premature. I wanna see what everyone has to say and then we go from there,” Thibodeau said. “I really liked the way [he plays], the speed and versatility, his ability to make plays off the dribble, to shoot the ball, to move without the ball, to read defenses, to understand what’s going on on the floor, and he helps bring the best out of everyone. He helps you execute, and I think that’s important.”
Shamet, a career 38.4 percent shooter from 3-point range, was viewed as a fit to help replace traded Donte DiVincenzo’s scoring touch from the outside.
His absence potentially could lead to an opening for draft picks such as Tyler Kolek or Pacome Dadiet or another veteran on a tryout deal, such as former Nets forward T.J. Warren or Chuma Okeke.
As he’s done in the past, Thibodeau also could simply go to a shorter 8-man rotation and divvy up Shamet’s expected minutes among starting wings Josh Hart, OG Anunoby and/or Mikal Bridges.
The Knicks also have returning combo guard Deuce McBride, veteran free-agent signing Cam Payne and forward/center Precious Achiuwa as part of their revamped second unit.
The Knicks simply could waive Shamet from his non-guaranteed Exhibit 9 contract, and they only would be charged with a $15,000 injury-protection clause.
over the Hornets on on Oct. 15, 2024. NBAE via Getty Images
Such a move would open up a roster spot under the $188.9 million second apron of the salary cap for another veteran on a minimum deal — perhaps a return for former Knick forward Marcus Morris Sr.
He was waived from an Exhibit 10 deal last month to help facilitate the trade that sent DiVincenzo and Julius Randle to Minnesota for Karl-Anthony Towns.
The Knicks (4-0 in the preseason) have one final dress rehearsal Friday night on the road against the Wizards before their regular-season opener Tuesday night against the defending-champion Celtics in Boston.
“Regardless, it’s always a next-man-up mentality,” Brunson said. “It’s something that I’ve seen here since I’ve been here. That doesn’t change, regardless of who’s out there. And so I was really proud of what [the bench] did [Tuesday] night.
“We’re taking steps in the right direction. We just have to continue to build off that and not get complacent.”