The Knicks are waiving guard Landry Shamet, forward T.J. Warren, and forward Chuma Okeke, the team announced Saturday.
Shamet suffered a dislocated shoulder in Tuesday’s preseason game against the Charlotte Hornets, which the team said they are still evaluating.
There is initial optimism that Shamet can avoid surgery. The Knicks may maintain roster flexibility early in the season while Shamet rehabs so they have room to re-sign him. If it is determined that he needs surgery, I assume the Knicks will then fill the roster spot with another player.
Shamet was on an Exhibit 9 contract. By waiving him on Saturday, the Knicks were only responsible for $15,000 of the veteran’s $2.1 million salary.
Shamet’s salary reduces by $15,000 per day once the season starts so the Knicks can re-sign him at a salary total lower than his $2.1 million veteran’s minimum during the season. This would help the team create more space under the second apron if it chooses to re-sign Shamet.
The Knicks’ team salary cannot exceed the second apron ($188.9 million) this season. They are hard-capped at the second apron due to the Mikal Bridges trade.
After Saturday’s cuts, the Knicks’ team salary is roughly $3.5 million below the second apron. They would have enough space to re-sign Shamet or another veteran and convert one of the rookies they drafted into a traditional contract.
It would be premature at this point to say that the Knicks expect to re-sign Shamet.
New York went through a complex process last season with Julius Randle’s shoulder injury, so the club knows how complicated this injury can be. Shamet suffered the injury five days ago. It’s probably too early for either the Knicks or Shamet to know if he can make a full comeback.
With Shamet’s situation still unclear and the Knicks open to bringing him back, New York didn’t have cap space under the second apron to keep Warren and re-sign Shamet. Warren had supporters among Knicks coaches and the front office to make the regular-season roster. The veteran wing will join the Westchester Knicks, New York’s G-League team, SNY has learned. He will likely be in the mix to re-join the club during the season if the need arises.
The Knicks tip off the 2024-25 regular season on Tuesday, Oct. 22 against the Boston Celtics.
New York currently has 12 players under traditional contracts. According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, they are allowed to have fewer than 14 players on their roster for a short period of time. They can have fewer than 14 players on the roster for 28 total days and no longer than 14 consecutive days.
So the Knicks could carry 12 players until November 4. At that point, they would have to sign a player to a traditional contract.
Prior to Shamet’s injury, the Knicks were expected to convert big man Ariel Hukporti from a two-way contract to a traditional deal. I would assume that they will still convert Hukporti and either re-sign Shamet or add another veteran to get to 14 players.
With Shamet, Okeke and Warren out, the Knicks’ bench consists of Pacome Dadiet, Miles McBride, Tyler Kolek, Cam Payne, Precious Achiuwa, Jericho Sims and two-way player Jacob Toppin. It will be interesting to see how the club and head coach Tom Thibodeau handle bench minutes and rotations early in the season.
BROWN WILL BE AROUND
Center Moses Brown will join the Westchester Knicks this season, SNY has learned. The 7-foot-2 center was in training camp with the Knicks this year. He’d signed an Exhibit 10 deal, which gives a player financial incentive to join a team’s G League club. Brown, 25, previously was with the Knicks on a two-way deal in 2023.
