BOSTON — The Knicks are eager about an area product to fill a roster spot.
Matt Ryan, a 27-year-old ahead free agent with a powerful 3-point proportion, is below robust consideration by New York, a supply confirmed.
Ryan was just lately waived by the Pelicans and has performed on 4 totally different NBA groups, having developed in highschool at Iona Prep in New Rochelle — about 10 miles from the Knicks observe facility in Tarrytown.
The Knicks entered opening night time Tuesday in opposition to the Celtics needing to fill two roster spots within the coming days.
They had been going to make use of one on Landry Shamet, however the veteran guard suffered a dislocated shoulder in preseason and was launched Sunday.
Ryan’s power, like Shamet’s, is capturing. He knocked down 45 % of his treys in 28 video games final season with the Pelicans, and even logged three minutes within the playoffs.
Ryan attended three faculties — Notre Dame, Vanderbilt and Chattanooga — earlier than going undrafted in 2020.
At 6-foot-6, he doubtlessly fills the spot vacated by Shamet, who was monitoring towards rotation minutes earlier than his damage. Shamet is trying to return this season with out surgical procedure however a supply stated that re-signing with the Knicks is hardly a given.
As Julius Randle’s saga demonstrated final season, restoration from a dislocated shoulder is difficult. Different free brokers available on the market embody Lonnie Walker IV, Marcus Morris Sr. and Justin Vacation.
Given their salary-cap scenario, the Knicks are anticipated to transform one in all their second-round rookies to a normal contract — with Ariel Hukporti because the front-runner.
So far as the rotation, the Knicks, in line with SNY, have been excited concerning the growth of 19-year-old rookie Pacome Dadiet, who impressed in his preseason minutes.
ESPN first reported the Knicks’ “robust” curiosity in Ryan.
OG Anunoby was the nice equalizer for the Knicks final season.
If he performed, they in all probability received. Anunoby set data for his constructive plus-minus statistics.
However like the remainder of the Knicks in Tuesday’s 132-109 blowout defeat to the Celtics, Anunoby’s time on the court docket correlated with deficits on the scoreboard.
The Knicks had been outscored by 21 factors in his 34 minutes, which Anunoby principally spent guarding Jaylen Brown — who scored 23 factors in half-hour, together with 5 of 9 from 3-point land.
Anunoby, who just lately signed the most important contract in Knicks historical past at $212 million, countered with 4 factors on 1 of seven capturing.
