Knicks eyeing ex-Pelican sharpshooter Matt Ryan to fill roster spot

BOSTON — The Knicks are interested in a local product to fill a roster spot.Matt Ryan, a 27-year-old forward free agent with a strong 3-point percentage, is under strong consideration by New York, a source confirmed.Ryan was recently waived by the Pelicans and has played on four different NBA teams, having developed in high school at Iona Prep in New Rochelle — about 10 miles from the Knicks practice facility in Tarrytown.The Knicks entered opening night Tuesday against the Celtics needing to fill two roster spots in the coming days.

They were going to use one on Landry Shamet, but the veteran guard suffered a dislocated shoulder in preseason and was released Sunday.Ryan’s strength, like Shamet’s, is shooting.He knocked down 45 percent of his treys in 28 games last season with the Pelicans, and even logged three minutes in the playoffs.Ryan attended three colleges — Notre Dame, Vanderbilt and Chattanooga — before going undrafted in 2020.At 6-foot-6, he potentially fills the spot vacated by Shamet, who was tracking toward rotation minutes before his injury.

Shamet is attempting to return this season without surgery but a source said that re-signing with the Knicks is hardly a given.As Julius Randle’s saga demonstrated last season, recovery from a dislocated shoulder is tricky.

Other free agents on the market include Lonnie Walker IV, Marcus Morris Sr.and Justin Holiday.Given their salary-cap situation, the Knicks are expected to convert one of their second-round rookies to a standard contract — with Ariel Hukporti as the front-runner.As far as the rotation, the Knicks, according to SNY, have been excited about the development of 19-year-old rookie Pacome Dadiet, who impressed in his preseason minutes.ESPN first reported the Knicks’ “strong” interest in Ryan.

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