Shane Larkin Can Play Part in New York Knicks' Present and Future

Shane Larkin—a 5'11", 22-year-old, sophomore speed demon—should be the New York Knicks' starting point guard for the rest of the season. Not Jose Calderon. Not Pablo Prigioni. Not just any ol' moderately talented point guard who might be obtained in a trade.

What New York needs is a great point guard who can run the system, and the Knicks' top brass needs to pony up the cash for one. In the meantime, Larkin, who started 12 of the 13 games played while Calderon was injured, is the team's best option.

He leaped over 7-footer Dirk Nowitzki to steal a high pass. He crossed over on Derrick Rose. He kept up with John Wall. He steals inbounds passes, fights over screens, moves the ball, drives the lane and sinks the occasional buzzer-beating triple. 

And he comes at a serious bargain.

With Larkin on the Court

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Don't get me wrong, I'm rather fond of New York's veteran point guards, Calderon, 33, and Prigioni, 37. Yet, the Knicks are 3-9 with Larkin as a starter, 2-20 with him out or playing off the bench. That alone makes a case for him to start ahead of Calderon.

With Larkin on the court instead of Calderon, the Knicks score more points per minute off turnovers, fast breaks and second chances. Opponents also score fewer points in the paint or off turnovers and fast breaks.

Both Larkin and Prigioni are stronger than Calderon on D. They stick to opponents like gnats on a hot day and can annoy shooters way more than trash talk, untied shoelaces or an earful of Lance Stephenson's breath. Shane fights over screens with no regard for life or limb. Pablo takes every inbounds pass as a personal challenge. True, they are part of the Knicks' horrible perimeter D, but they are the least horrible parts. 

On D, Prigioni's stats are even better than Shane's. There is certainly a solid argument to be made for inserting Prigs into the starting lineup. 

On offense, however, a point guard needs to identify the best shot opportunities and facilitate plays. Calderon and Prigioni can be too choosy. They over-dribble, over-pass, overlook the shot clock and the buzzer blares with nobody making a play at all.

Per possession, the Knicks attempt and make more field goals when Larkin is on the court and attempt and make fewer when he's off it. With him, the Knicks attempt a field goal on 89.7 percent of their possessions—Calderon 87.3, Prigioni 86.6. With Larkin on the court, the team sinks a shot on 39.6 percent of possessions—Calderon 38.1, Prigioni 38.9.  

Wasted possessions are something the Knicks—28th in the league in points per game—cannot afford. 

Larkin as Shooting Guard

The Knicks' shooting guard position has been plagued by injuries and spotty performances. With Tim Hardaway Jr., Iman Shumpert and J. R. Smith absent or underwhelming, Fisher has been compelled to put two, sometimes three, point guards on the floor together.

Calderon and Prigioni on the floor together is a shot-clock violation waiting to happen.

Shane, however, has been effective either at the 1 or the 2 spot, with either Jose or Pablo. Not exactly a glorious revelation of scoring prowess, but he averages 42.1 percent from the field, 39.1 from behind the arc and generates and-1s when he turns on the speed.  

He's a more versatile backcourt presence and a more balanced offensive-defensive player than his fellow New York point guards. That makes him a valuable piece of the squad—even if the Knicks get an elite point guard in blue and orange before October. 

A Bargain

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So far, Larkin is the best thing to come out of the offseason deal with the Dallas Mavericks that sent Tyson Chandler and Raymond Felton to Texas and brought him, Calderon and Samuel Dalembert to New York. 

But nobody expected that to happen. So even as a starter for one of the NBA's original teams, in the greatest city in the world at the World's Most Famous Arena, Larkin will make a wee $1.6 million this season.

Worse yet, at the Oct. 31 deadline, the Knicks chose not to pick up Larkin's third-year option. As Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com explained:

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Now that his option hasn't been picked up, Larkin will become an unrestricted free agent this summer. Larkin can still re-sign with the Knicks but only for up to the amount of the option that was declined, which is $1,675,320.

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So the Knicks can either show off Larkin now and trade him away at a profit, lose him in the offseason to a team that can pay him more or start wooing him now so he re-signs.

He may never be Derrick Rose, John Wall or Damian Lillard, but Larkin is a young, smart, quick point guard who learns fast and makes his team better.

So to Action Jackson & Co. I say start writing the love letters along the lines of: "I'm sorry, Shane. I didn't appreciate you until it was too late. I know I can't give you everything you deserve, but I promise nobody will love you as much as I do."

Flowers, chocolates, tattoos of his name, do whatever it takes. Because you don't just luck into a Shane Larkin every day.

Especially not if you're the New York Knicks.

All stats are from NBA.com/stats. Follow Sara Peters on Twitter @3FromThe7.