The New York Knicks should bring back Danilo Gallinari

The New York Knicks have many problems to address this offseason, but a reunion with Danilo Gallinari would improve the team’s lack of shooting.

Danilo Gallinari‘s place in New York Knicks lore will always be as the center of Donnie Walsh’s decision to nuke the roster for a player he could’ve signed in free agency.

Nine years later, the Knicks have the opportunity to sign a different version of Gallinari in free agency.

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The former first-round pick left New York as a baby faced 22-year-old prospect. This summer, he has an opportunity to return as a proven veteran with legitimate facial hair.

The unusual salary cap situation this offseason most likely means a good deal of players will be signing one-year contracts. The Knicks shouldn’t hesitate to bring back Gallinari under those terms.

New York would be picking Gallinari up at precisely the right time, too, as his last two seasons have been his best. A big reason for Gallinari’s improved play has been increased playing time at the power forward position.

Despite his 6’10” frame, Gallo had always played the majority of his time at small forward. Once upon a time, the Knicks even tried him at the shooting guard position.

The Knicks saw flashes of 3-point excellence from Gallinari during his first stint in New York when he made 186 threes — thank you, Mike D’Antoni — at a 38.1 percent clip back in 2009-10. The only two Knicks with more 3-pointers in a season are J.R. Smith and John Starks.

It was a phenomenal season and Gallo clearly won over his coach. D’Antoni — who once coached Steve Nash — went as far as to call Gallinari “the best shooter he’s ever seen.”

The 31-year-old has always been an excellent 3-point shooter, but recently he’s taken it to the next level, converting at over the illustrious 40 percent mark.

Gallinari is precisely the type of player the Knicks need right now as they’re in the conversation as the worst shooting team in the league. This year’s squad is currently ranked last in 3-point makes and 29th in effective field goal percentage.

The Knicks have been a lousy shooting team for a long time. They haven’t had a squad ranked inside the top 15 in either category since 2013-14. But Gallo can help change that.

Let’s refer to the all-powerful Basketball-Reference finder tool for confirmation on Gallinari’s proficiency from beyond the arc.

In 2018-19, Gallinari was one of three qualified players to shoot 45 percent overall, 40 percent on 3-pointers, and 90 percent on free throws. The other two — Stephen Curry and Malcolm Brogdon — are guards.

As Gallinari’s 3-point shot has improved, it’s become the focal point of his game.

He was fifth in the league in total 3-pointers made in 2018-19, and according to NBS Stats, Gallinari is fourth in catch and shoot 3-pointers made per game this season.

This season, his 3-point attempt rate is at a career-high .538, with 165 of his 329 field goals coming on 3s.

Gallinari’s shooting allows him to be one of the best pick and pop players in the NBA.

Gallo is able to draw big men away from the rim to the perimeter where they are less comfortable. In today’s NBA, having a stretch four like that can be one of a team’s most valuable assets.

But there’s more to Gallo than just his sharpshooting.

The other areas of his offensive game show how far he’s come as an offensive player. He uses the screen well, whether it’s for the handoff or going off the bounce.

Gallinari’s really developed a rapport with Steven Adams, and I could see the same type of plays being run with him and Mitchell Robinson.

Since leaving New York, he’s turned himself into a solid post-up player too.

Gallinari has been a high-efficiency player with his back to the basket in the past two seasons. The move to power forward has been a big help there.

He likes the fadeaway jumper, but Gallo uses the mismatch against the guard particularly well too.

Conversely, there is a legitimate concern about Gallinari’s injury history. He’s played 70 games two times in 11 seasons, with the last time being his 2012-13 campaign.

The concerns about his defense have been overblown due to a lack of rim protection.

For context, Mitchell Robinson has more blocked shots in one and a half seasons than Gallinari has in his entire 11-year career. But Gallinari is an underrated one on one defender.

Gallinari was barely in New York long enough the first time to make any sort of impact. A return to the Knicks on a one-year deal could be something he’s looking forward to.

This offseason is going to be one of the strangest in the history of the NBA and Gallinari may want to put his future decision off until things are more stable. Why not go someplace comfortable in the meantime?

As nice as it could be for Gallo to come back to the team that drafted him, the Knicks are just desperate for shooting.

Carmelo Anthony was the last Knick to make 150 threes in a season, and he only converted at a 34.9 percent clip.

Gallinari has made 160 threes in back to back seasons while shooting better than 40 percent from outside. A reunion would be good for Gallo but the Knicks need to bring him back.