Kyle O’Quinn will test out the free agent market as he has declined his player option for next season with the New York Knicks.
Kyle O’Quinn declined his option with the New York Knicks and will become an unrestricted free agent according to a report from Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
This isn’t a shock considering O’Quinn outperformed the $4.2 million he was scheduled to make next year if he decided to accept his player option. This doesn’t necessarily mean he’s done in New York, but he should have a number of potential suitors this offseason.
O’Quinn knows he’s going to be getting paid by somebody this offseason. The former second-round pick has developed into a very productive big man off the bench. He’s a very good defender, capable passer, and he can control the glass.
He’s durable and reliable, playing in 77 and 79 games during the last two seasons for the Knicks. He’s a rugged guy who isn’t afraid to mix it up inside. O’Quinn averaged career highs in points and rebounds this season with 7.1 and 6.1 per game respectively. He also tied his career high for blocks with 1.3 per game.
O’Quinn will be one of the better options for a backup big man on the market. He showed this year that he is extremely valuable off the bench, but also capable of assuming a larger role in a pinch as he started 10 games for New York this season.
To be clear, he is better off as a bench guy playing somewhere around 20 minutes per game, but that role can be vital.
This isn’t the only Knicks big man that will need to make a decision about his player option. The Knicks are still waiting on Enes Kanter to make a decision regarding his player option worth $18.6 million for next season.
