Langston Galloway Signed By New York Knicks
It has been announced that the New York Knicks are going to call-up Langston Galloway from their NBA D-League affiliate, the Westchester Knicks, and sign him today to a 10-day contract.
Galloway has been with the Knicks since the summer, when he played on their Summer League team. He had a positive impression on the team, as he was retained for training camp and the preseason, before being assigned to the D-League. Galloway has continued his strong play through the D-League season, and has earned this call up.
More from Empire Writes Back
- Caesars New York Promo Code: Win $250 Bonus GUARANTEED on ANY Bet!
- Last Chance Caesars Promo: Claim $1,250 Bonus for ANY MLB Bet!
- Caesars New York Promo Code Gives TWO Chances to Win Betting on Your Yankees!
- PointsBet New York Promo: FIVE $100 Bonus Bets to Back the Yankees or Mets!
- Caesars NY Promo: $1,250 Bonus to Celebrate the Return of Judge!
The 6-foot-2 guard, a former standout at St. Joseph’s, has been outstanding for the Westchester Knicks, leading the team in scoring at 16.5 points per game on 44.7 percent shooting and 35.8 percent from beyond the arc. He also averages 5.9 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game for well-rounded stat lines night in and night out.
Galloway should step into the Knicks’ rotation right away, partly out of necessity, but also because he will bring what they are dire need of; some defense. He gets at it defensively, as he not only leads the Westchester Knicks in steals with 2.68 per game, but that total is good enough to lead the entire D-League.
His ability to play defense on the perimeter and at the point of attack should strengthen the Knicks whole unit. Too often this season teams have broken them down at the top of the key, enabling them to get into the paint at will for easy baskets around the rim or kick outs for wide open three-pointers.
Expectations need to be held in check; Galloway won’t step into the NBA and become Bruce Bowen, but he should at least improve what has been an embarrassing Knicks defense at points this season.
Galloway is expected to take one of the roster spots that were opened up Monday when the Knicks completed a three-team trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Oklahoma City Thunder that saw Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith leaving town. The Knicks received Louis Amundson and Alex Kirk back, but both are expected to be released as neither player has a guaranteed contract; the deadline for non-guaranteed contracts to become guaranteed is Saturday.
The Knicks also received Lance Thomas in the deal, who the Knicks are also considering as a candidate to be waived according to sources. They will also have another roster spot available once Samuel Dalembert clears waivers as well.
At this time, it is unclear how the Knicks will choose to fill the remaining spots on their roster. They could hand out more 10-day contracts to young players, giving them an audition of sorts to see if they are capable of fitting in with the Knicks’ long term plan. Another player to keep an eye on is Galloway’s Westchester teammate Thanasis Antetokounmpo. The Knicks do own his rights though, as they selected him in the second round of the 2014 NBA Draft, and could leave him in the D-League to continue working on his game and develop.
More from New York Knicks
- New York Knicks Fall to Eighth After NBA Draft Lottery
- New York Knicks: Players to Draft in Worst-Case Lottery Scenario
- New York Knicks: Three Players Who Should Thrive Under Tom Thibodeau
- Is Devin Booker to the New York Knicks Realistic?
- New York Knicks: Tom Thibodeau Officially Hired as Head Coach
With Dalembert out of the picture now, and Amar’e Stoudemire and Andrea Bargnani continuing to struggle with injures, the Knicks could be in the market for a big man. With trade exceptions at their disposal, the Knicks could look to fill the holes on their roster by taking on salary in trades, or just filling them with free agents they want to give a look to.
With so many players being moved, and other deals possibly in the works, the Knicks are in need of bodies to put on the roster, and Galloway will be the first. He is expected to join the team for Wednesday’s game against the Washington Wizards, and will be welcomed with open arms; the Knicks had only nine players for their game Monday against the Memphis Grizzlies, and are struggling to even meet the league’s requirements for active players to play a game. You can’t expect him to be a second coming of Jeremy Lin, but it will be nice seeing new faces on the Knicks as they give some younger players extended minutes.