The Westchester Knicks selected Matt Ryan And Landry Shamet with the No. 1 and No. 2 overall picks in the 2024 NBA G League Draft on Saturday afternoon.
Here are some notes to this effect:
The Knicks’ draft plans were reported earlier by Marc Stein.
Drafting Shamet allows him to rehabilitate his dislocated shoulder with the organization. There was initial optimism that Shamet can avoid surgery. This optimism remains. The Knicks can maintain roster flexibility and have a spot for Shamet if he fully returns from his shoulder injury.
There is mutual interest between Ryan and the Knicks.
New York currently has 12 players on traditional NBA deals.
They can have fewer than 14 players on standard contracts for up to 14 consecutive days and 28 days total per season.
New York must therefore add two players no later than November 5.
If they converted Ariel HukportiIf the deal moved from a two-way contract to a standard deal, then they would be able to sign Ryan to a two-way contract.
They have enough money under the second apron to convert Hukporti and sign Shamet. But it seems logical that the Knicks would wait to sign Shamet until he’s close to returning to the court.
The second apron is an obstacle for the Knicks.
The Knicks currently have $3.6 million between their own team’s salary and the second apron ($188.9 million).
The salary of the New York team cannot exceed the second apron. The club is heavily capped at this amount due to the Mikal Bridges trade.
