Shane Larkin will reportedly opt out of contract with Nets

According to reports, back up point guard Shane Larkin will opt out of his contract with the Brooklyn Nets and become an unrestricted free agent.

With the salary cap expected to significantly increase this summer, this was not a surprise move.  Larkin averaged 7.3 points and 4.4 assists in 22 minutes per game for the Nets this past season.  Those aren’t eye-popping numbers, but he played well in spurts and could command a slightly larger deal on the open market.

Larkin’s role increased when starting point guard Jarrett Jack suffered a torn ACL in December and was lost for the season.  He and fellow reserve Donald Sloan each took turns starting in his place, with Sloan emerging as the better player.  Larkin’s best game of the season came against the Washington Wizards in April, finishing with 20 points, 7 assists and 6 rebounds.

Playing on this third team in three seasons, Larkin was erratic at times for the Nets.  He showed flashes of being a solid NBA rotation player with his speed and athleticism, but sometimes he did more harm than good during games.  He was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the 2013 NBA draft, and after one season he was traded to the New York Knicks.  He spent one season with the Knicks before signing with the Nets last July.

Larkin was one of four Nets with player options for the upcoming season.  Andrea Bargnani was bought out during the season, which leaves reserves Wayne Ellington and Thomas Robinson as the only players left to decide their fates for 2016-17.  If both opt out, the Nets will have even more cap room heading into free agency, which begins next month.