In a league that is moving towards stretch 4’s and even stretch 5’s, it is nice to see Spanish center Willy Hernangomez play the traditional center role. Willy, or Billy as its pronounced, was acquired by the New York Knicks in last year’s draft 35 overall.
He is 6’10” and weighs 255 pounds. Last year, he averaged 5.7 points and 3.3 rebounds in 34 games. While those numbers may not excite many, he will be a solid backup and can learn from Noah.
As Kristaps Porzingis found out last year, the NBA season is much longer than the Liga ACB season. Hernangomez most likely won’t be playing the minutes Porzingis was last year so his adjustment may be easier.
As everyone knows, Hernangomez and Porzingis played together, so they have a feel for each other’s game. Steve Mills, Phil Jackson, and Jeff Hornacek all wanted Hernangomez to come over this year and the Knicks locked him up for four years.
Don’t expect him to be going anywhere as long as Porzingis is around and turns into the star everyone expects.
GRADE: B-
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