CHARLOTTE – After seeing Landry Shamet’s shoulder dislodge from its socket 4 days prior, the official medical replace on Wednesday felt extra encouraging than it may’ve been.
Shamet was identified with a sprained shoulder and will likely be re-evaluated in about 4 weeks, league sources confirmed, with the taking pictures guard already beginning rehab.
A supply mentioned the harm wasn’t as unhealthy as Shamet’s dislocation from final yr, however the restoration timeline is prolonged sufficient to current a conundrum.
The Knicks relied closely on Shamet via the primary month of the season, with coach Mike Brown deploying religion and minutes into the 28-year-old taking pictures guard.
Shamet would possibly’ve been at first of a profession resurgence when he collided Saturday with Orlando’s Wendell Carter Jr., sending Shamet to the locker room with a pained face whereas holding his shoulder.
It was the identical proper shoulder Shamet dislocated earlier than final season, leaving it extra inclined to coming out with out surgical procedure.
So now what?
The replace of a sprain appears to keep away from the worst-case state of affairs of requiring season-ending surgical procedure, nevertheless it doesn’t imply Shamet is scheduled to return in 4 weeks. It simply means there will likely be one other replace in about 4 weeks – or on Dec. 24 – with the message presumably depending on rehab progress.
So Shamet will miss at the least 11 extra video games, beginning with Wednesday towards the Hornets. The Knicks had been already shorthanded, particularly on protection due to OG Anunoby’s hamstring pressure and Mitchell Robinson’s load administration plan.
Importantly, Shamet’s contract turns into assured in early January and the Knicks can waive him with out penalty earlier than Jan. 7 – two weeks after the scheduled replace.
If the Knicks launch Shamet, they’ve the cap area to signal a free agent. However the choices are restricted – at the least earlier than the buyout market materializes in February – and Shamet is confirmed as productive on this system when wholesome.
