Landry Shamet has an official prognosis with an essential deadline on the horizon.
As anticipated, the Knicks backup guard suffered a dislocated shoulder in Tuesday’s preseason recreation, the Knicks introduced, and he’s nonetheless “gathering data” on the choices, based on Tom Thibodeau.
The massive query is whether or not Shamet will bear surgical procedure, a conundrum acquainted to Knicks followers who adopted Julius Randle’s restoration saga from a dislocated shoulder final season.
Since Shamet is on a non-guaranteed deal, the Knicks will solely be on the hook for $15,000 of his $2.6 million deal if he’s waived by Saturday at 5 p.m., a league supply confirmed.
If he’s not waived, the Knicks incur a per-day cost towards the cap.
“It’s a dislocated shoulder and he’s nonetheless gathering data as to what the following steps are,” Thibodeau stated. “Clearly, we really feel very strongly about him and what he did. So no matter it’s, no matter is in entrance of you — in the event you’re coping with an harm, lock into that and deal with the rehab and get your self able to go once more.”
Requested whether or not he expects Shamet to be on the roster for the common season, Thibodeau stated, “I don’t know what all the knowledge is. I’m basing it on what I’ve right now. It’s a dislocated shoulder. He’s nonetheless gathering data and so we’re simply going from there. So he’s already attacking the rehab. And I like that. He wants extra data as nicely.”
There are a number of choices with Shamet, who was on observe to be an essential rotation participant earlier than the harm.
They might hold the 27-year-old on the roster till he will get wholesome.
That wouldn’t make sense if he undergoes surgical procedure, which is often a six-month restoration from a torn labrum.
It additionally wouldn’t make sense if the Knicks doubt Shamet can regain full skill with out surgical procedure.
An alternative choice is to waive Shamet and use his spot for one more veteran participant, whether or not on the present roster (TJ Warren), a present free agent (Marcus Morris, as an example) or a participant who will develop into a free agent (Lonnie Walker IV could possibly be waived by the Celtics earlier than the opener for luxury-tax causes).
The Knicks have 12 gamers on assured contracts and must get to 14 for the regular-season opener. Rosters for opening day are due by Oct. 21.
Randle, who was traded to the Timberwolves final month, went by a course of just like Shamet’s.
After visiting a number of medical doctors, he tried to return with out surgical procedure however suffered a setback throughout rehab and finally went below the knife.
On Thursday, Shamet posted on Instagram that he’ll be “again quickly.”
He wasn’t with the Knicks for Friday’s preseason recreation in opposition to the Wizards.
“Recognize all the prayers and nicely needs,” Shamet wrote. “That is simply the following impediment and to be afraid of an impediment would go in opposition to every thing that I’m — I welcome them. I’m attacking this rehab. Again quickly.”
If Shamet is waived, veteran Cam Payne is the frontrunner to develop into the second guard/wing off the bench behind Miles McBride.
Rookie Tyler Kolek additionally has a possibility for minutes.
