Tom Thibodeau on reason Knicks re-signed Landry Shamet, he fits well with two players

For the New York Knicks, they’ve got high-level stars they believe can lead them to a title. Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns are true stars, with starters like Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby providing a huge impact.

Still, the role players added beyond the key players have to fit. They’ve got to be complimentary. The Knicks are intentional with who they add to their roster and how they will fit into the scheme and system. They recently made a roster move that reflects such.

Tom Thibodeau reveals why the Knicks re-signed one key role player

One player the Knicks were sure to bring back is Landry Shamet. He was re-signed to the squad on December 22 to help bolster the depth on the bench. He was with the team during preseason, though a shoulder injury hurt his ability to make the roster, leading to him being cut.

However, now that he’s healthy, he landed a roster spot as the Knicks waived Matt Ryan. The reunion comes after the Knicks drafted Shamet No. 2 overall in the G League draft to their affiliated Westchester Knicks.

The plan was for Shamet to rehab under the franchise’s guidance and prepare him to eventually re-join the main squad. The reason the Knicks wanted to do so was quite simple, according to Tom Thibodeau.

“He knows how to play off people extremely well,” Thibodeau explained. “The three-point shooting, he can handle the ball, play off the ball, the versatility with Cam (Payne) and Deuce (Miles McBride). I think they fit well together.”

In today’s NBA, versatility is incredibly important. Players have got to find ways to make an impact in multiple facets of the game. For Shamet, his floor-spacing and handling the ball allow him to play off his teammates well.

How Shamet could prove to be useful for the Knicks

Vying for early minutes off the bench won’t be easy for Shamet, as he’s only recently made his return to the squad. Fighting his way into the rotation won’t be easy, particularly under Thibodeau’s leadership. He’s notorious for playing his starters heavy minutes.

On top of the starters dominating the playing time for the first 48 minutes, McBride and Payne are regulars off the bench, averaging about 42 minutes of playing time per game between the two.

With Shamet getting healthier, though, the Knicks are one step closer to being at full force. Precious Achiuwa is healthy and Mitchell Robinson is working his way back to being able to help on the hardwood. Shamet can absolutely make an impact, too, as a floor-spacing wing player.

The Knicks have converted on their 3-pointers well this season. If they wanted to lean into that strength, giving Shamet spot minutes to be a spark in that aspect could prove beneficial. And for a team that plays heavy loads of minutes, depth never hurts.

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