Where does Langston Galloway fit with the Detroit Pistons?

The Detroit Pistons’ fifth highest-paid player was an afterthought for much of last season. Langston Galloway is owed $7.3 million in 2018-19. But where does the shooting guard fit on this roster?

Do you remember playing “Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?” as a kid?

Personally, I don’t. But I imagine the concept is similar to Langston Galloway‘s current situation with the Detroit Pistons.

By the end of last season, he was largely an afterthought.

The 26-year-old signed a two-year deal worth just over $14 million back in July 2017. After playing in 27 of the first 29 games, Galloway began to receive plenty of “Did-Not-Plays” (DNPs).

In those 27 games, his numbers weren’t terrible. He averaged 6.8 points, 1.8 rebounds, 0.8 assists and 0.5 steals in 14.5 minutes of action. Galloway also shot 40.5 percent from the floor and 38.6 percent from beyond the arc.

Again, nothing that will jump out at you. But his play wasn’t awful. Was Galloway trigger-happy? Absolutely. Should he have gone to his dribble more often? There’s no doubt. But his sudden drop off in playing time was odd nonetheless.

Of the remaining 53 games, he was benched in 22 of them. This included two five-game stretches where Galloway didn’t see the floor.

Part of this could be attributed to Avery Bradley (before he was traded), Reggie Bullock, and Luke Kennard all competing for minutes at shooting guard, in addition to Galloway.

Bradley, who struggled during his short tenure in Detroit, started all 40 games when available. That wasn’t going to change as long as he was on the team.

Bullock blossomed into one of the league’s best 3-point shooters. He finished second in 3-point percentage, with a final tally of 44.5. Kennard wasn’t as effective, but he did shoot 44.3 percent from the floor and 41.5 percent from deep as a rookie.

By the midway point of the season, both players had leapfrogged Galloway in the rotation, and deservedly so. But to bench him so often and abruptly, what purpose could that have served?

Only Stan Van Gundy knows the answer to that question.

Now Van Gundy is gone, and it’s up to Dwane Casey to figure out how one of the club’s highest-paid players fits into the system.

It’s hard to see anyone start at the two over Bullock. His size and 3-point shooting can’t be replicated. That most likely solidifies Kennard as the backup shooting guard.

Where that leaves Galloway is anybody’s guess. But it would be a mistake to automatically pencil him in as the third option. Rookies Bruce Brown and Khyri Thomas are knocking on the door, and they’re not as reliant on spot-up jumpers.

We’ll have to wait until the preseason to see where Galloway fits with the Pistons.

That is, if he even fits at all.