The Knicks have waived guard Landry Shamet ahead of Saturday’s 5 p.m. deadline, the team announced, meaning they decided against guaranteeing him a contract while waiting for him to rehab from a dislocated right shoulder.
Shamet, who was injured in Tuesday’s preseason game against the Hornets, was in camp on a non-guaranteed Exhibit 9 contract.
The Knicks only will owe him a $15,000 settlement since they waived him before the deadline.
They also waived T.J. Warren and Chuma Okeke, who also were in camp on non-guaranteed deals.
Tom Thibodeau said Friday night in Washington that the 27-year-old Shamet still was “gathering information” about possibly undergoing surgery, but there are indications the seven-year NBA veteran will attempt to avoid going under the knife.
Shamet posted Saturday on his Instagram story a video of himself already riding a stationary bike with the caption, “Iron sharpens iron. Let’s f—ing get after it today, baby,” with the song “Cold Water” by Major Lazer featuring Justin Bieber and MØ playing in the background.
He also had posted on Thursday a vow to be “back soon.”
“I don’t know what all the information is,” Thibodeau said Friday night. “I’m basing it on what I have at this time. It’s a dislocated shoulder. He’s still gathering information and so we’re just going from there. So he’s already attacking the rehab. And I like that. He needs more information as well.”
The Knicks presently have 12 players on guaranteed contracts and need to get to 14 before the regular-season opener Tuesday in Boston.
There are multiple options to replace Shamet, who was expected to be part of the Knicks’ rotation off the bench before suffering the injury.
They can use Shamet’s spot to sign another veteran player or a free agent like Marcus Morris or Lonnie Walker IV.
Walker, who played for the Nets last season, was waived Saturday by the Celtics.
He shot 38.4 percent from 3-point range last season for Brooklyn.
The Knicks also could convert second-round pick Ariel Hukporti’s two-way contract to a guaranteed NBA deal to take up one of those roster spots.
