Hernangómez has the qualities to be that player.
This we know for sure: in 2017-18 Willy Hernangómez was one of the team’s few shining lights. After coming to the Hornets from the Knicks, he averaged 5.3 points and 4.3 rebounds in eighteen appearances.
Courtesy: Marca
Craftiness makes Hernangómez a player to watch. At 6’11” and 240 pounds, he uses a variety of post moves to look for the open teammates, just like so many foreign NBA players do. The Hornets haven’t experienced a dish-it-out playstyle since they had the great Al Jefferson.
Hernangómez has also adopted the shoot-the-three modern NBA mentality–unlike teammates, Cody Zeller and Dwight Howard. He is currently shooting 40% from the three-point line and his accuracy enables the Hornets to use a five-out offense when Hernangómez is playing alongside Frank Kaminsky or Marvin Williams. That scheme puts a lot of pressure on opposing defenses because defenders have to defend all five players from long range.
Courtesy: AP photo/Charles Rex Arbogast as published in the Boston Herald
But there’s a red flag–defense. Throughout his pro career, Hernangómez has been a liability on the defensive end of the court, primarily in terms of allowing defenders to drive and score. That issue was the main reason the Knicks traded Hernangómez to Charlotte.
But head coach Steve Clifford has a strategy for that–to “disguise” a player on the defensive end, just as the Warriors and Trailblazers do. With more switches, the Hornets would then be a better team defensively.
Another issue for Hernangómez is rebounding. He’s below the average threshold for an NBA center. A short-term solution is to increase his minutes. A longer-term solution is for Hernangómez to tack on twenty pounds of muscle. A growth in body mass, which Frank Kaminsky has done recently, should help Hernagómez rebound more effectively.
All in all, I think Hernangómez has a realistic shot of establishing himself as the Hornets’ center–at least in the short future–because of the team’s situation. A rebuilding Charlotte could make two moves–trade current starting center, Dwight Howard, for younger assets, and deal fellow center (and injury-riddled) Cody Zeller to create more cap space. Those moves could slide Hernangómez into the starting center for the start of the 2018-19 NBA season.
I think it’s worth exploring.
I believe Hernangómez possesses qualities of a franchise center–a can-do attitude, the ability to score in multiple ways, and the ability to be an alpha at times.
So, Hornets: Will you make Hernangómez the team’s franchise center?
