Matt

Ryan

Per league rules, two-way players can only be active for 50 games during the regular season. Toppin has reached his limit, while Ryan’s was on the horizon. As a result, they’ve been waived, opening up two slots for the Knicks. New York also has an open standard contract slot, with T.J. Warren and Chuma Okeke being two names that beat reporters have mentioned as options to fill that void.

Ryan was on a standard deal with the Knicks until Sunday, when he was waived to make room for Landry Shamet. The New York native didn’t have to wait long for his next opportunity, as the Knicks will reportedly sign Ryan to a two-way contract. To free up a spot, the Knicks are waiving guard Boo Buie. These moves will not impact fantasy basketball.

Shamet was on track to earn a roster spot out of training camp, but a dislocated shoulder led to the Knicks waiving him just before the start of the season. The expectation was that New York would ultimately sign Shamet, provided he was in good health, even going so far as to select him in the first round of the G League draft. Shamet won’t be a great fantasy asset, but he gives Tom Thibodeau another shooter to call on. To free up a roster spot for Shamet, the Knicks have waived Matt Ryan.

Three days after the Pelicans waived him, Ryan will return to the team on a restructured one-year deal. The 3-point marksman appeared in 28 games (one start) last season, averaging 5.4 points, 1.4 rebounds, and 1.5 3-pointers in 13.9 minutes. Given New Orleans’s options at small forward, Ryan faces long odds to crack Willie Green’s rotation this fall.

Ryan averaged 5.4 points per game with the Pelicans last season and shot 45.1 percent from deep. His release comes following the announcement of Javonte Green’s one-year deal with New Orleans.

Ryan has been upgraded from questionable to available, but this will not impact fantasy basketball. He has not been guaranteed rotation minutes when healthy.

Ryan hasn’t been a consistent part of the team’s rotation since November, so his status for this game won’t really impact fantasy.

The points are tied for third most of Ryan’s career as he’s got games of 20, 17 and another 14-pointer under his belt this season. The Chattanooga product has appeared in only 15 games this season, but he’s averaging a career-high 20.3 minutes in those games and stroking three-pointers at a ridiculous 47.1% clip. Given the depth on New Orleans’ roster, it’s unlikely Ryan gets enough of an opportunity to be viable in 12-team leagues this season, but he’s a useful streamer for points and triples when given extra minutes.

Ryan has been out since mid-December after undergoing surgery on his elbow. While he gives the Pelicans another shooter off the bench, rotation minutes will be tough to come by as the team is as healthy as it has been all season long.

Ryan has been out since mid-December when it was announced that he would miss 6-8 weeks after undergoing elbow surgery. His ability to do one-on-one work means that Ryan’s closing in on a return, but he remains without a concrete timeline. Ryan’s continued absence will not impact fantasy basketball, as Trey Murphy III and Naji Marshall are healthy.