The Knicks planned to exercise Shane Larkin’s team option for 2015-16, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports.
Apparently, they never made the move official.
Knicks could be changing course on picking up Shane Larkin 2015-'16 option, now leaning toward the cap space, sources say. Deadline Friday.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 25, 2014
I’m not sure what changed in the last 10 days. Waiving Travis Outlaw doesn’t affect New York’s 2015 cap space.
I think the Knicks should exercise the Larkin’s third-year option, though it’s a close call. New York is obviously wary of cutting at all into its 2015 cap room, because Larkin’s salary – $1,675,320 – isn’t much, and if he’s cleared from the roster, a $525,093 roster charge would replace him.
I think it’s more likely than not the 22-year-old Larkin rebounds from an underwhelming rookie year with the Mavericks to the point the Knicks could give him away without a sweetener next summer if necessary. But that’s hardly a given, and there is definitely logic to declining the option and ensuring New York maximizes its cap space.
Given their market, the Knicks have a different strategy than most teams in balancing developing youth and acquiring veteran free agents. It’s an equation that nudges the needle a little closer to declining Larkin’s option.