New Orleans Pelicans: Willy Hernangómez is the backup the Pels needed

New Orleans Pelicans: Willy Hernangomez gives the Pels some stability

Hernangómez is a prototypical center who inflicts most of his damage around the rim. He is a comparable offensive player to Steven Adams, seeing as how he can’t really space the floor and depends on others to spoon-feed him down low. Hernangómez actually does take some threes, but on very low volume and he’s made none of his four attempted triples this season.

The Spanish center scores 71 percent of his shots within three feet of the basket, a better figure than Adams. He knows what his role is and doesn’t try to explore beyond it. Unlike Hayes who still has his moments of unpredictability—generally not in a good way—or Melli whose game is entirely predicated on his shot since he can’t really compete inside, Hernangómez brings forth a steady diet for New Orleans. The Pelicans know what they’re going to get for their back-up big and that stability is golden.

The Pelicans’ games very early in the season were marked by the disparate difference between when Adams was on the floor compared to their other bigs. Van Gundy’s bench units crumbled, completely unable to guard the rim. Hernangómez has helped change that. He has a positive box plus-minus reflecting his status as a solid, but unspectacular role player.

Hernangómez only missed one shot against the Memphis Grizzlies in the Pelicans’ Tuesday night win, scoring 14 points and racking up eight rebounds. All of his shots came in the paint and his synergy with the Pels’ playmakers was encouraging.

Hernangómez’s points included assists by Eric Bledsoe, Lonzo Ball, and Zion Williamson—three of New Orleans’ four facilitators. The big man later rewarded Williamson with a sweet dish of his own. Much like with Adams, Hernangómez and Williamson can share the floor for now.

In all likelihood, the Spanish center is a stopgap option for the Pelicans. Hayes should still be seen as New Orleans’ big of the future and there is still the possibility of the Pelicans acquiring another savory big man through a trade or in the draft this summer. There will also probably be more doses of Williamson at center as his career progresses.

However, sometimes you need something for the now, and that’s where Hernangómez comes in. He isn’t flashy, but he’s solid. He gets the job done and contributes on a nightly basis, which is exactly what this Pelicans team needs.