Detroit Pistons: Complete 2017 offseason grades

Signing Langston Galloway

Stan Van Gundy, like many coaches who are also their team’s president of basketball operations, prioritizes “his guys.” I spoke with Duncan Smith of PistonPowered, who expounded on this issue.

"“I think Van Gundy and (general manager Jeff) Bower have this approach where they like to get these guys signed and over with early on, even if that means overspending…I’m quite sure they could have gotten Jon Leuer for less than $10 million a year last summer, but on the plus side, they got it wrapped up early.”"

The Langston Galloway signing was no different. Detroit threw a three-year, $21 million offer his way on July 1, which was a no-brainer for the 25-year-old combo guard to accept.

The signing is fine in a vacuum. The Pistons desperately needed shooting at the point guard position. If Van Gundy the coach wanted Galloway specifically for this role, there is no reason to question him. The price was high, but not inherently crippling.

In context, it was far more damaging, shaping the two defining moves of Detroit’s offseason. Things more or less worked out in the end (more on that soon), but that was in direct spite of this move.

Grade: D