NBA New York Knicks

Shane Larkin Could Be J.J. Barea For the New York Knicks

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Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

Shane Larkin has the potential to be for the New York Knicks what J.J. Barea was to the Dallas Mavericks in 2011. It still remains to be seen how the Knicks will fare this season (they are in the East after all), but they have the firepower to at least make the playoffs. After training camp, summer league and a preseason with the Knicks, Larkin has been offered his $1.67 million contract option.

This is obviously good for Larkin, but I think it is a worthwhile investment for the Knicks. The first reason is that Larkin is explosive. I, being from Miami, had the privilege of watching him play point guard for the University of Miami basketball team that made it to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament. He is incredibly quick, with an AI-like first step, and has a 44-inch vertical leap. Yes, you read that correctly; he can almost jump over a 4-foot tall person.

Along with being an elite athlete, he also can score in bunches. Very similar to Barea, he can sneak into crevices that a lot of players can’t and work angles that many of the taller players could never. Of course, this gives him an advantage and disadvantage because of his size, but his athleticism more than makes up for it. With Jose Calderon starting for the team, offense is going to be needed. Calderon gives them controlled, turnover-free play and three-point shooting, but he fails to give them explosive scoring punch. I think Larkin can do that for New York if they give him a chance to prove what he can do.

Christopher Cruz is a Miami Heat writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @_chris_cruz, or add him to your network on Google.

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