Denver Nuggets: 3 options for the backup center role
By Adam Taylor
3 options for the backup center role: Willy Hernangomez
At 6-foot-11 Willy Hernangomez would add some additional size to the Denver Nuggets bench unit. Hernangomez, a career backup center, would come into Denver willing to embrace his role on the supporting cast.
Offensivley, Hernangomez is rather limited. The five-year veteran only averages 53.7 percent from the two-point range on a shade under six attempts per game. Furthermore, the Madrid native offers little in the way of floor spacing, hitting only 30.6 percent of his 0.4 three-point attempts per game.
What Hernangomez does give you, though, is respectable defense and high-level rebounding. Hernangomez finished in the 92nd percentile of bigs for offensive rebounds and the 85th percentile for defensive boards this past season.
Elsewhere on defense, the 250lb big projects as a drop defender with limited capabilities of operating in show and switch coverages on the perimeter. The New Orleans Pelicans used Hernangomez on the perimeter for stretches last season with mixed results, and due to the Nuggets wing defenders, it makes sense he adopts a strict “protect the paint” approach.
With Hernangomez’s limited offensive game and situational defense, it’s fair to assume he doesn’t currently sit atop of the Denver Nuggets free-agent wish list. It’s worth noting that Hernangomez has been performing above his usual level while with Spain at the Tokyo Olympics, giving hope that he may find better form in a new situation.
Financially, Hernangomez is likely to sign a veteran minimum deal which is fair in terms of production vs. cost.
