Landry Shamet’s Knicks injury comes at most brutal time

Landry Shamet picked up a nasty injury at a bad time. 

The Knicks guard hurt his shoulder in the third quarter of Tuesday’s preseason contest, retreating to the locker room and never returning as his team beat the Hornets, 111-105, at the Garden. 

Playing defense on a drive by Charlotte’s Moussa Diabate, Shamet swatted at the ball and immediately grabbed his right arm as he collapsed to the court in pain.

It appeared his shoulder was dislodged from the socket. 

The Knicks provided no update during the game. 

Shamet is operating on a non-guaranteed contract but was expected to make the final roster with a path toward consistent playing time as a backup combo guard.

As part of his Exhibit 9 contract, Shamet only has a $15,000 injury protection.

He would earn $2 million if he made the final roster and the contract was guaranteed. 

The Knicks still need to keep at least two players on non-guaranteed deals, with Ariel Hukporti, Jacob Toppin, T.J. Warren, Chuma Okeke and Kevin McCullar Jr. among the possibilities.

The Knicks could also sign a free agent.

Zhaire Smith, Jalen McDaniels, Jahlil Okafor, Kendall Brown, Terence Davis and Isaiah Miller were all recently waived by NBA teams. 

Shamet, a six-year NBA veteran who scored eight points in 20 minutes Tuesday, was signed as a free agent after playing last season with the Wizards.

He’s a sharpshooter who drew praise from Tom Thibodeau during training camp. 

If Shamet’s injury is long term, the Knicks still have Miles McBride, Cam Payne and Tyler Kolek as guards to back up Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges. 

Pacome Dadiet made the most of his first real NBA opportunity. 

With the Knicks sitting all their regular starters Tuesday, the 19-year-old rookie dropped 16 points — all in the first half — while shooting 6-for-11 (including 3-for-6 from 3-point range). 

Dadiet, the No. 25 overall choice in this year’s draft, represents the first Knicks first-round pick in three years but is considered a long-term project after playing last season overseas.

Prior to Tuesday, he hadn’t even logged preseason minutes and battled a finger injury. 

But Thibodeau gave his starters a rest against the Hornets, with Brunson, OG Anunoby, Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges all in street clothes. 

Thibodeau has said all along that the plan is to treat the final preseason contest — which is Friday at Washington — as a true dress rehearsal with more of a regular rotation. 

Dadiet, a 6-foot-8 wing, likely still won’t get regular-season minutes — at least not many of them barring a rash of Knicks injuries.

But he left a strong first impression Tuesday. 

Precious Achiuwa led the Knicks with 20 points and 16 rebounds.