Why New York Knicks' Gamble on Langston Galloway Could Pay off Next Season
With a franchise rebuilding plan focused on acquiring high-priced free agents, it's important the New York Knicks find value in the lower-profile guys.
Cue Langston Galloway, who the Knicks just signed for the league minimum through 2016 with a partial guarantee for next season, according to ESPN's Ian Begley:
Galloway had slipped through the 2014 NBA draft cracks right into President Phil Jackson's lap, who brought him in for summer league and a couple of recent 10-day contracts.
In eight games since being called up, he's averaged 12.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game for the Knicks. ''At first, the tempo (in the NBA) was a little different but I've definitely adjusted to it,'' he told The Times Picayune's John Reid after going for 21 points in win over the Pelicans January 19.
According to the New York Post's Marc Berman, Jackson was initially hesitant "to donate the $800,000 minimum for next season it would take to keep Galloway in the fold," given the cap space he's looking to preserve for the bigger prizes on the market this summer.
It wasn't too long ago Jackson declined point guard Shane Larkin's $1.6 million 2015-16 option.
But you have to fill your roster out somehow, and the potential reward tied to Galloway producing on a minimum-wage deal is worth the risk of him not.
The sample size isn't overwhelming, but Galloway has displayed a number of attractive role-playing qualities. And none should hold more value to the Knicks than his shooting stroke.
A sniper out of Saint Joseph's, having shot a career 42.6 percent from downtown on a whopping 343 three-point makes in four seasons, Galloway has hit 12 of 31 threes (38.7 percent) for the Knicks through eight games.
As someone who projects more as an off-ball player once the Knicks eventually add talent to the roster, it's encouraging to see that Galloway has hit a strong 52 percent of his catch-and-shoot jumpers outside 10 feet, per NBA.com.
The other big draw to Galloway is his energy, something the Knicks have lacked since this core was put together. He's made a couple of electric plays, whether it's been a putback slam or a coast-to-coast take, that have seemingly sparked the team and fanbase.
Galloway's shooting stroke and motor alone could earn him playing time next season. But there might even be a little more upside for coach Derek Fisher to tap into.
From pull-up jumpers over screens and hard takes to the rack to drive-and-kick passes to shooters, Galloway has shown the ability to score and create off the dribble. He's hit the 15-point mark three separate times while dishing out at least three assists in six of eight games played.
He "has a high ceiling," said Fisher, via Berman.
As a guard who can handle the ball in a secondary role or stretch the floor as a shooter, Galloway has the potential to offer the Knicks some desirable backcourt versatility.
There was really no gamble involved in this one. The fact is, you need guys like Galloway when you're building a core in which three to four guys could take up most of the cap space. Carmelo Anthony alone will be making nearly $23 million next season. If the Knicks end up getting their wish and signing a couple of big fish this summer, there's only so much money they'll have left to spend on supporting-cast members.
In that case, they're going to want serviceable contributors on cheap, low-end contacts, which has Galloway's name written all over it.
It's only been a couple of weeks, but Galloway has flashed enough to suggest he's capable of bringing something to the table, even if it's in a 15-minute-per game role off the bench. And if he can do it making minimum wage, than this signing could end up going a long way for the Knicks next season.
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