2023-06-30 06:05:05
Willy Hernangomez He is finally free and will be able to decide his destiny. As pointed out by MD yesterday, the New Orleans Pelicans They have not exercised the franchise option for which they could have renewed the Spanish center for one season and 2.6 million and the MVP del Eurobasket enters free agency. ESPN’s Andrew Lopez confirmed New Orleans’ decision.
The Pelicans wanted Willy. It was quite a bargain to stay for only 2.6 million and with a contract as manageable as a season long to such an extremely effective player, who did so much with so little time on the field, even if he was out of rhythm. His numbers were 7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1 assist in 12 minutes.
However, the eldest of the Hernangómez made it clear to the Louisiana franchise that, in its ‘prime’ to its 29 years, He was not willing to resign himself to a role as extremely residual as that of the season that just ended, just 38 games out of 82 played and with those 12 minutes on average.
Willy’s reluctance to play such an inconsequential role again and the Pelicans’ lack of guarantees of giving him more minutes could have triggered the breakup after two and a half seasons in New Orleans. The interior already tried to get out of the Pelicans in February, but the franchise, which valued his efficiency and his contribution at the level of locker room spirit, did not let him.
And not a few and prominent franchises showed interest in Hernangómez, as was the case with Boston Celtics, Miami Heat y Chicago Bulls. New Orleans came out on top but, however, couldn’t give Willy what he asked for and deserved.
One of the obstacles for the man from Madrid, the traffic of pivots in a roster with up to four players in the ‘5’ position in the rotation, with Jonas Valančiūnas as owner and Larry Nance Jr. as main alternate and Jaxson Hayes and Willy Hernangómez behind them, with the Spaniard many times as a fourth option.
The Pelicans would have decided to alleviate the load of pivots, since not only Willy is leaving, but it also seems that a Hayes to whom they have not presented a renewal offer and becomes unrestricted free agent as the MVP of the Eurobasket, despite the fact that the team coached by Willie Green could still present him with an offer according to Andrew Lopez.
At a delicate moment for New Orleans with the ‘affair’ of Zion Williamson with a porn actress and trade rumors swirling, Willy’s is a major loss both competitively and emotionally. Williamson himself, an absolute reference for the Pelicans, was admiring the eldest of the Hernangómez for his enormous contribution both in terms of track and costumes.
Now in free agency -as Juancho y Serge Ibaka-, Willy is a candy for anyone and he should not lack suitors to find his fourth team in the NBA after New York Knicks, Charlotte Hornets y New Orleans Pelicans. With everything demonstrated as a player and teammate and his constant will to improve in the game – and also due to age and low cost taking into account his previous contracts – it is not out of place to say that the eldest of the Hernangómez is, at least, to act as second pivot with his 20 minutes per game on many NBA teams.
To franchises that need a second ‘center’ like eating and with salary space problems like Miami Heat, and above all, Phoenix Suns, They could use Willy, who has earned the right to own his destiny. He said that he would not mind going back to Europe, but he gives priority to an NBA in which the best of Willy Hernangómez is yet to come.
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