Knicks reach deal to bring Landry Shamet back after preseason shoulder injury

Landry Shamet is back in the mix for the Knicks. The Knicks agreed to a deal to bring back the veteran guard, according to ESPN, now that he is fully recovered from the shoulder injury he suffered during the preseason. Terms of the agreement were not immediately available. The Knicks waived Shamet in October after he dislocated his right shoulder during a preseason game. They then took him with the No. 2 pick in the 2024 NBA G-League Draft, allowing them to monitor his progress. Shamet, 27, averaged 10.7 points per game on 36.7% shooting in three appearances with the Westchester Knicks, which included a 12-point effort on Saturday night. Earlier this month, Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau said Shamet was moving in the right direction. “He’s feeling pretty good,” Thibodeau said on Dec. 11. “The big thing is he’s going step by step. He’s taking contact on now, so he’s getting closer.” Shamet has averaged 8.7 points on 40.8% shooting, including 38.4% from 3-point range, in his six-year NBA career, which included stints with the Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Clippers, Nets, Phoenix Suns and Washington Wizards. He averaged career lows with 7.1 points and 15.8 minutes per game with Washington last season. The shooting guard is an active defender who appeared poised to be part of the Knicks’ rotation before the injury. Shamet’s return adds depth to a Knicks bench that is averaging only 20.4 points and 12.2 minutes per game, which both ranked last in the NBA to begin Sunday. Shamet had been deployed as part of a three-guard unit also featuring Miles McBride and Cameron Payne off the Knicks’ bench. Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges have started every game this season for the Knicks (18-10), while Josh Hart missed his first game last week for personal reasons.