The New York Knicks are set to sign sharpshooter Matt Ryan to a standard NBA contract after acquiring his rights in the G League Draft this past weekend, as reported by Peter Botte of the New York Post. Ryan, a 27-year-old forward renowned for his three-point shooting, was selected first overall by the Westchester Knicks, the Knicks’ G League affiliate.
With a currently thin 12-man roster, the Knicks need to fill two additional standard contract slots by November 5, and Ryan’s shooting prowess and compatibility with head coach Tom Thibodeau’s system make him a likely candidate. Following Monday’s loss to the Cavaliers, Thibodeau commented, “We’ll see how it goes” regarding plans for incorporating Ryan and fellow draft pick Landry Shamet into the lineup.
“Landry is currently in the rehab process, but we’re excited about Matt because of his shooting skills. You can never have enough shooting, and we really like both players,” Thibodeau added.
Ryan, standing at 6-foot-6, has a career three-point shooting percentage of 41.1% across 63 NBA games with teams including the Celtics, Lakers, Timberwolves, and Pelicans. According to Botte, the delay in finalizing Ryan’s contract is due to financial considerations as the Knicks aim to avoid exceeding the second apron.
