In our series of season outlooks for the players on the 2017-18 Detroit Pistons roster, we run through expectations for each. Next up is Langston Galloway.
The Detroit Pistons entered the summer of 2017 with several specific goals in mind coming off a disappointing season. First was to deal with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope‘s restricted free agency (which they did in unexpected round-about fashion), then they wanted to acquire a cheap third center, a scoring wing and a third-string point guard to play behind Ish Smith and Reggie Jackson.
The Pistons ended up trading Marcus Morris for Avery Bradley, enabling them to save money and let KCP walk, then they signed Eric Moreland to a three-year partially-guaranteed contract to fill the hole at center. Finally, the Pistons killed the last two birds with one stone and signed Langston Galloway to a three-year deal worth $21 million.
Galloway will play the de facto third point guard spot and will also be a reserve scoring wing behind Avery Bradley at the two. His acquisition is considered to be a form of insurance against regression from Reggie Jackson‘s knee tendinitis. Because the Pistons have a peculiar situation in which not just any third point guard will do, Galloway will step into that role and if Jackson struggles and needs to be shut down he can be elevated to backup point guard behind Ish Smith.
Next: Ish Smith's season outlook for the Pistons
The Pistons spent significant capital on addressing their shooting deficiencies from last season. In 2016-17, they were among the worst shooting teams in the NBA is almost every category. This summer they have signed multiple dangerous shooters, including Galloway. Last season he hit 39 percent of his threes, and he shot a torrid 47.5 percent from long range after being traded by the New Orleans Pelicans to the Sacramento Kings at the trade deadline.