Nets Rumors: Will Shane Larkin Pick Up Player Option?

Recent Brooklyn Nets rumors involve point guard Shane Larkin and if he will be exercising his player option for next season or not.

Brooklyn Nets rumors have simmered down a little bit, as they landed their new head coach in Atlanta Hawks’ assistant and Long Island native Kenny Atkinson. With a head coach in place, the Nets’ attention will now turn towards improving their roster.

It will be a tall task for new general manager Sean Marks, as the Nets are without their own first round draft pick until 2019. He will have to get creative in free agency, but will have some cap space to spend this summer to start the rebuild in Brooklyn. There could be even more money available if player’s options are declined; one of the players that have a decision to make is point guard Shane Larkin.

Larkin signed with the Nets as a free agent last season, securing a two-year deal. The second year of that deal though is a player option worth $1.5 million. That means Larkin will have a decision to make in the coming weeks, as he can either take the guaranteed money and stay with Brooklyn for another season, or try his hand as a free agent once again. If he declines his player option, he will be a restricted free agent once things get underway July 1st.

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While a decision has not yet been made, it sounds as if Larkin has an idea of what he wants to do. “I’m not a guy who wants to play a 10-year career with eight different teams,” Larkin tells Basketball Insiders. “I want to find a home and really lock in with a team where I know what the coach wants, what my teammates want and we can just all grow together.”

If Larkin wants to build that kind of continuity, it makes sense to exercise his player option and remain with the Nets. The Nets are a rebuilding team, so there should be plenty of opportunity for Larkin to get on the court next season.

Larkin had the best season of his young career in 2015-16 with the Nets, averaging 7.3 points, 4.4 assists, 2.3 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 22.4 minutes per game, playing in 78 games with 17 starts. Despite his diminutive size, as he is listed at 5-feet-11 inches tall, Larkin has explosive athleticism that makes up for his stature.

It makes sense for Larkin to re-up with the Nets and look to build off of his strong season. If he can improve in 2016-17 as he did this past season, Larkin could be in for a solid contract next offseason with two solid seasons under his belt. There is also no guarantee that he could top or even meet the $1.5 million his option is worth, so he should take the money and look to improve to land a more lucrative contract next season.

Next: Kenny Atkinson A Great Hire For Nets

In addition to Larkin, Wayne Ellington and Thomas Robinson also have player options for next season.

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