CHARLOTTE – Just four days after witnessing Landry Shamet experience a shoulder dislocation, the latest medical update, released on Wednesday, came as a relatively positive development.

Shamet has been diagnosed with a shoulder sprain, and according to league sources, he will be reassessed in approximately four weeks. In the meantime, the shooting guard has already commenced his rehabilitation process.

A source indicated that this injury isn’t as severe as Shamet’s dislocation from the previous year, though the expected recovery period still poses a significant challenge.

The Knicks had been leaning heavily on Shamet during the first month of the season, with head coach Mike Brown placing considerable trust and playing time in the 28-year-old’s capabilities.

Shamet appeared to be on the path to revitalizing his career until a collision with Orlando’s Wendell Carter Jr. on Saturday sent him to the locker room, visibly distressed and clutching his shoulder.

It was the same right shoulder Shamet dislocated before last season, leaving it more susceptible to popping out without surgery. 

So now what? 

The update of a sprain seems to avoid the worst-case scenario of requiring season-ending surgery, but it doesn’t mean Shamet is scheduled to return in four weeks. It just means there will be another update in about four weeks – or on Dec. 24 – with the message presumably dependent on rehab progress. 

So Shamet will miss at least 11 more games, starting with Wednesday against the Hornets. The Knicks were already shorthanded, especially on defense because of OG Anunoby’s hamstring strain and Mitchell Robinson’s load management plan.

Importantly, Shamet’s contract becomes guaranteed in early January and the Knicks can waive him without penalty before Jan. 7 – two weeks after the scheduled update. 

If the Knicks release Shamet, they have the cap space to sign a free agent. But the options are limited – at least before the buyout market materializes in February – and Shamet is proven as productive in this system when healthy.