Advanced Scouting: Ovidijus Galdikas

Looking through the Knicks’ summer league roster, there seems to be a fair amount of familiar names. Cleanthony Early, Langston Galloway, Ricky Ledo, and Travis Wear all played for New York last year. Meanwhile Thanasis Antetokounmpo played for the Westchester Knicks. Finally, Kristaps Porzingis and Jerian Grant were drafted this year, and we’ve gone through their potential strengths and weaknesses.

So as I browsed through the roster, one name stuck out: Ovidijus Galdikas. I decided to check on this 7 foot 1 inch center, and think I’ve found a gem. Throwing away numerical analysis, because it’s led me astray in the past (Cole Aldrich), I decided to use my eyes only. And Galdikas is going to be a great NBA player. Witness for yourself.

What we have here is a player that consistently gets open under the hoop. In just about every play, the Lithuanian is receiving the ball near the basket, without a defender in sight, and is flushing the ball for an easy score. This great ability of finding the open spot on the floor where there are no defenders is a skill that doesn’t show up in the box score. Galdikas is going to revolutionize the NBA with this tactic.

Also notice his soft hands. In every single play, Ovidijus catches the ball cleanly, which makes for a smooth finish. This is true whether the pass is on the ground, or in the air. It’s clear from the video that any ball thrown at him is instantly caught. Again this is a fact that neither PER nor WS encapsulates.

And when opposing players attempt a shot in his vicinity, Galdikas is there for the block. Every time. Boom!

Clearly once summer league breaks, the Knicks will have a problem on their hands. With Galdikas as their opening day starting center, what do they do with Robin Lopez? Also how will Porzingis take it when the Lithuanian Lob Lord steals the spotlight as a Knicks rookie? Although New York will have these problems on their hands, I can’t wait to see what Galdikas brings to the 2016 Knicks.

Knicks Morning News (2015.07.10)

  • [ESPN.com – New York Knicks] Agent: Antetokounpo wants spot on Knicks (Fri, 10 Jul 2015 01:45:21 EST)

    Agent: Antetokounpo wants spot on Knicks

  • [New York Times] Tina Charles Leads Liberty (Fri, 10 Jul 2015 04:36:20 GMT)

    Charles had 21 points in the Liberty’s victory over the Washington Mystics.

  • [New York Times] Kristaps Porzingis, Knicks’ Top Draft Pick, Is Set for Summer League Debut (Fri, 10 Jul 2015 03:11:53 GMT)

    Porzingis, the fourth overall pick in the N.B.A. draft last month, said he expected to play Saturday in a summer-league team against the Spurs in Las Vegas.

  • [New York Times] Sports of The Times: From the First Round to a Last Chance for Thomas Robinson (Fri, 10 Jul 2015 01:35:33 GMT)

    Robinson, 24, is trying avoid the label of “bust,” and he underlines an energetic youth movement designed to allow the Nets to rebuild while trying to make another playoff run.

  • [New York Times] Matthews Sticks With Reeling Mavs After Jordan Rejection (Fri, 10 Jul 2015 00:16:43 GMT)

    Mavericks owner Mark Cuban gave free agent guard Wesley Matthews an out after accepting the reality that DeAndre Jordan was spurning Dallas to re-sign with the Los Angeles Clippers.

  • [New York Daily News] Kristaps Porzingis may play in Knicks Summer League opener (Fri, 10 Jul 2015 05:11:05 GMT)

    Rookie “savior” Kristaps Porzingis appears set to make his NBA summer-league debut on Saturday, saying he no longer feels pain in his hip.

  • [New York Daily News] Nets Brook Lopez has first diss for twin, new Knicks center (Fri, 10 Jul 2015 01:42:33 GMT)

    Brook Lopez delivered the first of what figures to be many insults between neighboring twin brothers.

  • [New York Daily News] Nets’ Shane Larkin says Knicks triangle wasn’t a good fit (Fri, 10 Jul 2015 01:32:17 GMT)

    After struggling last season with the Knicks, Shane Larkin is hoping a different borough and system will rejuvenate his career.