New York Knicks Can And Should Re-Sign Langston Galloway

The New York Knicks have rescinded the qualifying offer made to Langston Galloway, but Phil Jackson can—and should—re-sign the guard who resembles one of his most historically significant role players.

Over the past two seasons, one of the few bright spots on the New York Knicks has been combo guard Langston Galloway. Between his relentless work ethic, infectious energy, tenacious effort, and clutch heroics, Galloway has endeared himself to Knicks Nation.

Unfortunately, Ian Begley of ESPN New York reports that the Knicks have rescinded Galloway’s qualifying offer, thus making him an unrestricted free agent.

Here’s the good news: New York may not have done that with the intentions of letting Galloway walk.

By rescinding Galloway’s qualifying offer, the Knicks created enough cap space to sign point guard Brandon Jennings. That doesn’t leave New York without the room to re-sign Galloway, however, as it still owns his early bird rights.

In other words, the Knicks can still go over the salary cap to re-sign Galloway.

Praise the basketball Gods.

Galloway is not the type of player who will lead a team to a championship. He isn’t a superstar talent waiting to break out, nor is he the project who’s being groomed to win awards and rack up accolades.

All Langston Galloway is, is the type of player who wants to win games.

Langston Galloway isn’t the star who will lead a team to a championship—he’s the role player who will rise to the occasion and save a contending team in times of trial.

The type of role player whom Phil Jackson had on every one of his 11 championship rosters as a coach.

Langston Galloway isn’t the star who will lead a team to a championship…he’s the role player who will rise to the occasion and save a contending team in times of trial.

The type of player Phil Jackson was for the 1973 New York Knicks.

Langston Galloway is the type of, “Shouldn’t have made it,” story that gets featured in a 30 for 30 short film. Even when he was flying under the radar, he’s been destined to succeed.

Galloway has the potential to be the Knicks’ version of Derek Fisher. If not Fisher, then he could be the Knicks’ version of Robert Horry. If not Horry, then he could be the Knicks’ version of Steve Kerr. If not Kerr, then he could be the Knicks’ version of John Paxson.

Trace it back as far as it goes—Jackson’s teams have always featured players who were cut from Galloway’s cloth.

Galloway may not win as many titles as those players—Paxson won three, Fisher and Kerr won five, and Horry won seven—but there’s something special about him. He’s a quiet player who stays in his lane, competes on a nightly basis, and steps up when his team needs him most.

Even if that doesn’t prove to be true, and I get egg on my face for making these outrageous claims, then what exactly are the Knicks risking here?

Even if Galloway does fail to make his mark in the postseason, what harm is there in re-signing him? By constructing the starting lineup, the Knicks have left themselves with virtually no cap space under a salary cap that’s paying career role players ridiculous salaries.

If the Knicks can re-sign Galloway to a multi-year deal at an affordable cost, then that can be accurately labeled as a win—no matter the outcome.

Simply put, Galloway is the ultimate role player. He may never be the star of a championship team, but in big moments, he isn’t afraid to take the big shot—and not many players deserve that distinction.

Carmelo Anthony, Kristaps Porzingis, and Derrick Rose are clearly favored to shoot in clutch situations, but the ball has a funny way of ending up in unexpected hands at the end of a game. If the ball falls into Galloway’s hands, have no fear.

He’ll be ready.

Even when the game isn’t on the line, it’s clear that Galloway has tremendous value.

In 2015-16, the Knicks posted their best defensive rating when Galloway was on the floor: -103.2. The Knicks’ worst defensive rating, 106.5, was accumulated when Galloway was off the floor.

It’s impossible to call those numbers a fluke when one considers that Galloway played in all 82 games in 2015-16.

In fact, Galloway hasn’t missed a single game since making his Knicks debut on January 7—a stretch of 129 consecutive appearances.

There are better individual talents to be found across the NBA, but no available free agent is as important to New York’s future as Galloway. He’s an unselfish contributor who lives for big moments, competes defensively, and spaces the floor.

Though it’s far too early to accurately project his career trajectory, Galloway has proven time and time again that he’s not afraid of big moments.

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With a starting lineup that’s actually ready to make the playoffs, it’s role players like Galloway and the recently re-signed Lance Thomas who can elevate postseason-caliber teams to championship-caliber territory.