Inside the Numbers: Is Landry Shamet’s New Knicks Contract a Value Deal?

Landry Shamet, a key role player in the New York Knicks’ historic 2026 NBA Championship run, has resigned on a 4 year contract worth $24 million. Getting paid around $6 million per year, this article will analyze the value of his contract while comparing Shamet to role players who had similar runs.

Otto Porter Jr.

Otto Porter Junior was a lottery pick for the Washington Wizards, but never really panned out. His value dwindled alongside extensive injuries, but he was regarded as a good role player due to his 3 point shooting ability. Otto fluctuated around 37–40% from 3 in the regular season, but was a streaky playoff shooter in his career before joining the Golden State Warriors. These limitations were a reason why they only signed him to a one year, minimum contract worth $2.39 million.

Otto’s 2021–22 Regular Season Stats with GSW:

22 MINUTES

8 POINTS

6 REBOUNDS

1.5 ASSISTS

1 STEAL

46/37/80 splits

121 ORTG

104 DRTG

These were solid stats for a role player. Otto showed above average shooting ability, secondary playmaking talent, and help defense tendencies.

Otto’s 2021–22 Post-Season Stats with GSW:

19.5 MINUTES

5 POINTS

3 REBOUNDS

2 ASSISTS

1 STEAL

49/40/78 splits

125 ORTG

109 DRTG

In the playoffs, Otto’s box-score visible production dropped. There’s a decrease of 3 in both points and rebounds, but a sizable increase in FG%, 3P%, & ORTG. The increase in efficiency and ORTG correlate. Even if Otto scored less, his threat as a shooter and attention from defenses increased with better efficiency, which caused the floor to open up for more other players. This allowed for a more productive Warriors offense as a whole, as evident by the ORTG.

Otto’s 2022 NBA Finals stats vs Boston Celtics (#2 ranked playoff defense):

17 MINUTES

5 POINTS

2 REBOUNDS

1 ASSIST

1 STEAL

59/56/100 splits

149 ORTG

110 DRTG

His ability to create conducive team offense as a shooter took the Warriors offense to another level in the NBA Finals. The splits increased exponentially, going up to 59% FG, and most importantly, 56% from 3. Hence why his ORTG of 149 was vital in knocking off the Celtics — who were ranked second in playoff DRTG — in 6 games.

Despite the insane splits in the playoffs and finals, Otto’s prior playoff shooting record and injury history couldn’t net him a big contract. In the off-season, he inked a 2 year deal with a player option that was worth only $12.3 million with the Toronto Raptors, despite some genuinely insane splits.

And the Raptors would suffer afterwards. Otto suffered injuries, which only let him play a combined 23 games over the next 2 years. He was traded to the Utah Jazz, where he eventually retired.

Otto’s situation highlights the risk in signing players with a remarkable post-season but a shaky career track record to long-term contracts. The Raptors had high hopes for his fit after making the playoffs in 2022, but it didn’t pan out whatsoever.

Gabe Vincent

Gabe Vincent’s production before the 2022 and 2023 seasons doesn’t immediately jump out at you. At the time a 2-way player, he recorded stats that fit the caliber of a G-League player. Winning the G-League’s Most Improved Player award in 2020, the point guard eventually upped his production. An increase in minutes and role let him grow, as he averaged a median of 24 minutes between the 2022 and 2023 seasons.

Gabe’s averages between the 2022 and 2023 Regular Seasons with MIA:

25 MINUTES

9 POINTS

2 REBOUNDS

3 ASSISTS

1 STEAL

41 FG%

35 3P%

85 FT%

105 ORTG

113 DRTG

The Nigerian guard mainly gained recognition in the 2023 playoffs. In a Cinderella Finals Run for the 8th-seeded Miami Heat, Gabe provided key ball handling, secondary distributing, and 3-point shooting.

Gabe’s 2023 Post-Season Stats with MIA:

31 MINUTES

13 POINTS

1 REBOUND

4 ASSISTS

1 STEAL

40 FG%

38 3P%

88 FT%

108 ORTG

116 DRTG

Besides rising against the Bucks, his most notable rise came against the Boston Celtics in the ECF (who were the best team in DRTG during the 2nd round) as he helped clinch a 3–0 lead and close the series out in game 7.

Gabe’s 2023 Eastern Conference Finals stats vs Boston Celtics:

34.5 MINUTES

16 POINTS

2 REBOUNDS

2 ASSISTS

1 STEAL

49 FG%

52 3P%

94 FT%

127 ORTG

116 DRTG

Despite averaging 11 points, his performance in the 2023 NBA Finals vs the eventual champion Denver Nuggets wasn’t highly impressive. The Heat lost in 5, and with the end of their season came the end of Gabe’s Miami tenure.

After a Western Conference Finals run and the loss of their backup point guard Dennis Schroeder, the Lakers made the decision to sign a 27 year old Gabe Vincent for secondary ballhandling and shooting potential, valuable archetypes next to stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Vincent would sign a 3 year, $33 million contract with the Lakers in the 2023 off-season.

The Lakers had drafted guard Jalen Hood-Schifino, but there were question marks around him as an NBA-level rotation player, so Vincent and his resume netted him $33 million to fill a positional need.

Although Gabe’s contract signing is now shunned and his time with the Lakers is considered a failure, it made sense at the time. He had just broken out and showed solid offensive upside off the bench. In addition, despite being undersized, Gabe was solid at defending initial drives with smart hand placement, anticipation, and upper body strength.

Due to injuries however, the potential never manifested and Gabe was eventually traded to the Atlanta Hawks, with the $11 million a year considered an overpay in hindsight.

Landry Shamet

2026 NBA Champion Landry Shamet is the latest player to fit this archetype of player. Not in terms of playstyle, but in terms of a bench role player who massively outplayed their contract for at least 1 playoff series.

Shamet shot 47% from 3 in the 2025 Playoffs for the Knicks. He received an Exhibit 9 contract afterwards, and got signed for the season after Malcolm Brogdon unexpectedly retired. Mainly a floor spacer and the Knicks’ best catch and shooter, Shamet had a really good offensive role in the 2026 regular season despite being a bad defender.

Landry’s 2025–26 Regular Season Stats with Knicks:

23 MINUTES

9 POINTS

2 REBOUNDS

1.4 ASSISTS

0.6 STEALS

44/39/71 splits

123 ORTG

117 DRTG

Shamet’s stats in the playoffs are interesting as well. His points, rebounds, and assists through secondary playmaking dropped. But, his 3 point efficiency increased by a large margin.

Landry’s 2025–26 Post-Season Stats with Knicks:

16 MINUTES

6 POINTS

1 REBOUND

0.7 ASSISTS

0.2 STEALS

45/48/78 splits

124 ORTG

111 DRTG

Shamet versus the Hawks averaged 2 points on 29 FG% and 27 3P%. Shamet rose in the next round versus the Sixers, as he averaged 8 points on 59 FG% and 58 3P%.

Where he really shined was versus the Cavaliers. Shamet averaged 10 points on 75 FG% and 92 3P%. The Missouri native guard also tallied an absurd 179 ORTG and 107 DRTG. The 58% from 3 in the prior round seemed like an insane peak, until he turned into a flamethrower, and averaged 92% for 4 games in the third round.

In the Finals, Shamet came back down to Earth. Versus the Spurs, he averaged 7 points on 33 FG% and 31 3P%. He tallied an ORTG of 97 and a DRTG of 113. This series also highlighted the highs and lows of players with one main strength. Laundry’s defensive flaws were on full display here, often not being able to compete with strength-based moves or contest shots on time.

Dylan Harper shot 6/8 vs him. Stephon Castle shot 3/4 vs him and tallied 4 assists. Julian Champagnie shot 3/4 vs him. An injured De’Aaron Fox shot 4/9 vs him.

Despite his unsustainable averages dropping down, Shamet still finished the 2026 Playoffs averaging 48% from 3. Besides KAT, he was by far the second best spacer for the Knicks even when missing his shots, consistently drawing attention and getting shots up quick to avoid wasting the shot clock and team rhythm.

The spacing leverage is essential for the Knicks, notably in a postseason when guys like Deuce McBride and Jordan Clarkson weren’t hitting their shots, and Tyler Kolek was borderline unplayable. It’s no wonder why the Knicks decided to bring him back.

And the fact they got him for only $24 million over 4 years is considered a steal by fans. There were definitely more lucrative offers on the table, after seeing shooters like Julian Champagnie and Kevin Huerter go for a yearly salary of $15 million and $9 million respectively. There’s no question about it. Landry also reportedly took a pay-cut to stay with the Knicks.

However, even if he didn’t, I don’t know if I would’ve paid considerably more than $6 million a year if I’m the Knicks. Looking at players like Otto and Gabe coming back down to Earth the next season, or suffering injuries that handicapped their already somewhat limited game, I think it’s always a risk. Especially when it’s a player like Landry, who has even less dimensions to his play style than either of those two, and has racked up a significant number of DNPs throughout his career.

Due to those reasons, I think the Knicks hit a perfect sweet spot in their valuation and the contract they offered.

Additionally, it’s a very movable contract at $6 million a year, as it doesn’t affect the books harshly.

A shooter is also probably the easiest archetype of player to move. Every contending team can use a shooter. Even if they don’t play a rotational role, a specialist can be used in key moments for certain plays.

Furthermore, a rebuilding team can use a proven shooter to help develop their playmakers and off-ball screeners. The gravity helps rebuilding teams simulate how the offense would look when they’re ready to compete.

The only thing that could affect moving Landry is the length of it being 4 years, and a team preferring an expiring contract could instead trade for a player with a shorter deal.

For these reasons and considering the history of similar situations, this deal is a massive win for the 2026 NBA Champions. Congratulations to the Knicks on a hard-fought season, and congratulations to Landry Shamet.

VERDICT: GREAT VALUE

GRADE: A