Landon Landry Shamet suffered a serious right shoulder injury on Tuesday night against the Charlotte Hornets. This comes as devastating news for the 27-year-old who had a strong chance to make the final Knicks roster for the upcoming season. With Shamet on the sidelines, it brings into question what this means for the current roster and who will grab his coveted spot. Shamet was signed to an Exhibit 9 contract, a deal designed to incentivize teams to keep young players on their G-League teams.
The injury appears to be serious and leaves more questions than answers about the team's plans for Shamet and the potential impact on their depth chart. Over the summer, the Knicks made it clear that they were dedicated to bringing together a strong core of players who fit the needs of the team, both in terms of numbers and positions on the court. But having Shamet on the bench was integral to how they envisioned their key player rotation.
Currently the Knicks are considering their options and would need to make room for Shamet on the roster. If they decide to sign him to a deal, the team would have to make cuts elsewhere or re-examine their current standard NBA contracts, which puts more pressure on the players with a safety net. In this regard, the Knicks are likely to convert Ariel Hukporti to a standard deal if they bring Shamet into the fold which would result in 14 players on standard contracts. This is a necessary consideration given their desire to retain young talent while maximizing value under the salary cap. Moreover, before Shamet's unfortunate injury, there was internal chatter about possibly signing veteran player Marcus Morris Sr. to bolster the Knicks' depth and balance in pivotal situations.
While Shamet's situation plays out, the team and fans wait anxiously about how they'll fill the gap he's left. From within the ranks of their own organization or by finding an outsider through free agency, the decision looms ominously large. New York ultimately face difficult choices without one of their top-scoring options, testing their resolve in bolstering their overall talent for the coming NBA season.