The LA Clippers have reportedly exercised Landry Shamet’s third-year option, bringing him back through the 2020-2021 season.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the LA Clippers have reportedly exercised Landry Shamet‘s third-year option for the 2020-2021 season. Shamet will now earn a little more than $2 million in his third NBA season.
Shamet has been a key piece for the Clippers since they acquired him via the Tobias Harris trade in February. During his initial stint last season, the rookie guard averaged 10.9 points on 45.0 percent shooting from three-point range in 25 regular-season contests with LA.
This year, Shamet is close to replicating those same numbers while taking on a larger role in the offense. No longer just a shooter, he’s picked up ballhandling duties on numerous occasions and has stepped up on the defensive end as well.
Through his first four games this season, Shamet is averaging 10.3 points and 2.8 assists on 43.5 percent shooting from deep and 45.2 percent overall.
Exercising Shamet’s option means he’ll return next season for a bargain. He’s due roughly $2.1 million, which is considerably less than he’d earn if the Clippers declined his option and made him a free agent. For that kind of shooting, he could easily be making at least $5 million annually.
Because Shamet is still signed to his rookie scale contract, he has an outstanding option available for his fourth season as well, which is worth nearly $3.8 million. Assuming he’s still with the team by then, the Clippers will surely look to exercise that option once the time comes.
Shamet appears set to have a career year with the Clippers in 2019-2020. LA is keen on running some of the offense through him, especially early in games, and he’s got one of the most reliable three-point jumpers on the roster. To have that kind of value already is a promising sign for his future.
Shamet will benefit from having superstars Kawhi Leonard and Paul George in the lineup, too. We’ve already seen a few examples of Leonard’s gravity helping the 22-year-old out, as hardly any of the three-point shots he’s put up have been contested. George’s return should only help his cause.
With Shamet locked up for the foreseeable future, the LA Clippers can start looking ahead to other free agency decisions coming up at the end of the season, including those involving Maurice Harkless, Montrezl Harrell, Jerome Robinson and Patrick Patterson.