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2017 NBA free agency grades: Detroit Pistons will sign Langston Galloway

By Gerald Bourguet

NEW ORLEANS, LA - OCTOBER 26: Langston Galloway #10 of the New Orleans Pelicans reacts after scoring a basket against the Denver Nuggets during the second quarter at the Smoothie King Center on October 26, 2016 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - OCTOBER 26: Langston Galloway #10 of the New Orleans Pelicans reacts after scoring a basket against the Denver Nuggets during the second quarter at the Smoothie King Center on October 26, 2016 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /
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To add a little more versatility and shooting to the backcourt, the Detroit Pistons have agreed to sign Langston Galloway to a three-year deal.

Between Reggie Jackson, restricted free agent Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Ish Smith, Michael Gbinije and rookie Luke Kennard, the Detroit Pistons have plenty of guards in their backcourt.

In a few days, apparently they’ll be adding one more to the books.

As first reported by ESPN‘s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Pistons are finalizing a three-year deal worth $21 million with unrestricted free agent Langston Galloway.

On the one hand, adding an underrated reserve like Galloway for $7 million a year is pretty solid value. Galloway is a committed defender, he shot 39 percent from three-point range last season and he’s still only 25 years old.

For a Pistons squad that desperately needs more long range shooting after finishing 22nd in three-point percentage, 26th in three-point attempts and 27th in three-point makes, Galloway could be a useful floor-spacer off the bench.

It’s no secret Detroit’s bench was a major problem two seasons ago, and though it improved in 2016-17, having someone who can play either guard spot provides a measure of depth to a few areas of need.

Galloway has had problems finding his place in an NBA rotation since his promising rookie season. After going undrafted in 2014, the St. Joseph’s product worked his way onto the 2014-15 New York Knicks roster.

He averaged 11.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 45 games for the Knicks that season, shooting 35.2 percent from three-point range.

However, despite playing in all 82 games for New York the following season, his minutes dropped from 32.4 a night to 24.8 and he failed to reach the 40 percent mark in field goal percentage once again. Galloway signed with the New Orleans Pelicans in 2016, but was dealt to the Sacramento Kings as part of the DeMarcus Cousins trade.

On a Kings roster flush with shooting guards, Galloway’s minutes dropped to a career-low 19.2 per game, despite shooting a blistering 47.5 percent from three-point range on 2.1 attempts per game. It was no surprise he exercised his player option to hit unrestricted free agency.

His ability to space the floor should hopefully help open things up for Stan Van Gundy’s offense, which ideally relies on a heavy dose on Reggie Jackson and Andre Drummond pick-and-rolls with shooters flanking them on the perimeter.

However, this move is a bit odd, especially with the knowledge that the Pistons plan to match any offer made to shooting guard and restricted free agent Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (thus ruling out the possibility of it being an insurance play).

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According to ESPN‘s Bobby Marks, this signing bumps Detroit up to $101.7 million in guaranteed money, hard-capping them because they’ve already used $5.2 million and their entire mid-level exception. The hard cap threshold, with KCP still left to sign, is $125 million.

A max offer sheet from another team would put the Pistons $3.4 million over the hard cap, so it’s time for Detroit to start dumping some salary.

Galloway is a quality signing at this price, but he’s probably not worth hard-capping the roster for, unless there’s another move coming to free up cap space. Could a long-rumored Reggie Jackson trade be coming, or is it really as simple as SVG liking a player to the point of completely removing his team’s flexibility moving forward?

It’s hard to judge this move at face value until the Pistons unveil the next part of their summer plans and re-sign KCP, but for now, this is a value signing that comes with undeniable consequences.

Next: 2017 NBA free agency tracker - Grades for every deal so far

Grade: C+

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