Willy Hernangomez is putting forth brilliant displays at EuroBasket 2017. The Spanish national team standout will need to rediscover this form with the New York Knicks.
The New York Knicks have made a firm commitment to Kristaps Porzingis as the franchise player. As Porzingis prepares to take on that unenviable task, however, the search for a true No. 2 rests squarely on the shoulders of the front office.
As the Knicks prepare to find that prospect in the 2018 NBA Draft, a player on the current roster is already shouldering a significant measure of responsibility.
When the Knicks acquired Willy Hernangomez in the second round of the 2015 NBA Draft, few paid the move any mind. Despite the appeal of the selection, Hernangomez was viewed as another one of former team president Phil Jackson’s strange personnel decisions.
Following his rookie season with the Knicks in 2016-17, however, Hernangomez has become a critical member of what’s become a promising young team.
The 23-year-old received spot minutes early in the season, but eventually became a featured member of Jeff Hornacek’s rotation. While most Knicks fans have grown fond of Hernangomez, his importance is often understated by those around the NBA.
As the New York Knicks build around Kristaps Porzingis, Willy Hernangomez will play an essential role in his friend and teammates’ development.
Here are five reasons why.
5. The Friendship Factor
The New York Knicks have done a rather poor job of keeping Kristaps Porzingis happy. Trade rumors have offered reason enough for Porzingis to be disgruntled, as both he and his mentor, Carmelo Anthony, have been at the heart of the reports.
As the Knicks look for ways to appease Porzingis, his friendship with Willy Hernangomez is one bridge that hasn’t been burned.
Hernangomez and Porzingis share a history that predates the 2016-17 NBA season. The two became teammates with Baloncesto Sevilla of Spain’s vaunted Liga ACB in 2013, and have since forged a close bond and friendship.
In addition to being friends off the court, Hernangomez and Porzingis share excellent chemistry on it—a delicate balance that could help for reasons other than morale.
Friendships don’t always work on NBA teams, but Hernangomez and Porzingis have displayed an ability to constructively criticize one another. That level of honesty could prove essential to the development of both players’ skill sets.
Whether it’s maintaining morale or pushing one another to the limit, the combination of Hernangomez and Porzingis is one that should prove beneficial.
4. The Modern Traditional Big Man
Willy Hernangomez is a traditional big man in every sense of the word. He not only rebounds, scores, and passes, but boxes out, comfortably plays with his back to the basket, sets hard picks, and is more than capable of facilitating from the high post.
As Hernangomez brings that necessary element to the Knicks’ offense, he’s also attempting to modernize his game to thus create the perfect blend of tools.
Hernangomez has made it abundantly clear that he intends to add an outside shot to his offensive arsenal. He won’t make a living around the three-point line, but he will attempt to embrace the changes made to the modern game.
Other alterations and expansions may be necessary, but the fact that Hernangomez is already looking to expand his game is a promising sign.
It’s worth noting that two of Hernangomez’s international teammates and idols, Marc and Pau Gasol, recently made the same change. Marc converted 104 of his 116 career three-point field goals in 2016-17, and Pau converted 56three-point field goals on an astonishing 53.8 percent shooting.
As Hernangomez’s mentors embrace the need for a modernization of the traditional big man, he’s doing the same—and the New York Knicks will need him to do so.
Having noteworthy shooters at both interior positions would make New York quite difficult to defend.
3. Rebounding
For all that Kristaps Porzingis does well at power forward, rebounding isn’t exactly a strength. He averaged a respectable 9.3 rebounds per 36 minutes as a rookie, but pulled down just 7.9 rebounds per 36 minutes in 2016-17.
That was somewhat influenced by his teammates—Willy Hernangomez, Joakim Noah, and Kyle O’Quinn all specialize in rebounding—but it’s concerning nonetheless.
If Porzingis is going to be a quality rebounder who never quite reaches elite, then someone next to him will need to. Hernangomez may already check that box, as he plays a fundamentally strong style that enables him to dominate the boards.
Hernangomez finished his rookie season with averages of 7.0 rebounds and 2.4 offensive rebounds in 18.4 minutes per game—translatable to 13.6 and 4.6 per 36.
Beyond the numbers, Hernangomez isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty as he fights for positioning down low. Porzingis can use his size and length to corral rebounds, but the New York Knicks need a player who can consistently dominate—and nothing short of it—the boards.
Dominance is a word that’s too easily thrown around, but Hernangomez is showing all of the signs of being the NBA’s next great rebounder.
2. Enabling Kristaps Porzingis’ Defensive Strengths
Versatility may be the word of the week in the NBA, but great teams cater to their players’ strengths. Thus, while Kristaps Porzingis may have the potential to defend like Kevin Garnett, the New York Knicks would be doing something wrong if he needs to.
Standing at 7’3″ with a proven ability to block shots, the Knicks should do everything in their power to enable Porzingis to play as many possessions as possible as a rim protector.
Porzingis has finished in the top 10 in blocks per game in each of his two NBA seasons, including his Top 5 ranking in 2016-17. He also ranked in the top 5 in defensive field goal percentage at the rim during the most recent campaign.
That’s an incredible strength to possess, but it was often wasted by New York being unable to protect him from having to run out on stretch 4s.
Willy Hernangomez stated in March that he wants to be able to defend both power forwards and centers. It was a comment that was as much about his individual development as it was his awareness of how his versatility would enable Porzingis, the Knicks’ best defender, to play to his strengths.
Stretch 4s are going to be a matchup nightmare for every team, but New York would benefit from having its lone rim protector closer to the paint.
1. The Perfect Blend
As teams attempt to shoot opponents to death, the New York Knicks have a chance to do something different. It’s already been acknowledged that Willy Hernangomez wants to shoot the three-ball at a high level, but the key to sustainable success is balance.
With Willy Hernangomez and Kristaps Porzingis, the Knicks would have the perfect blend of abilities at two positions that few teams are stable at.
While Porzingis provides the ultimate finesse game at 7’3″, Hernangomez bulldozes through players with a more powerful style. Porzingis will space the floor and put the ball on the floor, and Hernangomez will back players down and distribute the ball from the high post.
If Porzingis polishes his post game, and Hernangomez adds the jump shot he’s committed to developing, then the two could even become interchangeable in their roles.
Defensively, Porzingis is the imposing shot-blocker whose mere presence intimidates slashers, albeit with a weakness in rebounding. Hernangomez is the dominant rebounder who can control the glass, albeit with a weakness in rim protection.
If both players commit to improving the areas in which they struggle, the Knicks could even go as far as flipping their positions—a move that could finally station Porzingis at center.
Must Read: An early 2018 NBA Mock Draft
Kristaps Porzingis may be the franchise player, but Willy Hernangomez is currently essential to the success of the New York Knicks.