Willy Hernangómez has embraced an unexpected chance and established himself as Stan Van Gundy’s second center off the New Orleans Pelicans’ bench.
It’s often said in the NBA that little-used players have to stay ready regardless of a lack of playing time because they could be called upon at any moment. That’s certainly true for Willy Hernangómez, as the Spanish big man has gone from totally unused early in the season to a key cog in the Pelicans’ rotation.
Hernangómez is helping buoy New Orleans’ second units and has carved out a role as Steven Adams’ ideal backup in this iteration of the Pels. Hernangómez did not play at all in 15 of New Orleans’ first 18 games and, when he did see the floor, it was only during garbage time.
Stan Van Gundy preferred Nicolò Melli and Jaxson Hayes for much of the first stretch of the season. Hayes, in particular, got plenty of run once it became clear that Melli could not be relied on to defend or space the floor. But the second-year man out of Texas didn’t make the most of his opportunity.
We are quick to forget that Hayes was, in fact, supposed to effectively redshirt his rookie year. However, he ended up paying 64 games due to a combination of injuries and how some of the Pels’ former bigs were performing.
Hayes has struggled to build on those 64 games this year, but progress isn’t linear. He’s still only 20-years-old and entered the NBA incredibly raw. Time is on his side, but perhaps it wasn’t for a Pelicans team craving a playoff spot.
Enter Willy Hernangómez.
New Orleans Pelicans: Willy Hernangomez’s journey
The Madrid center was signed as a free agent in November after leaving the Charlotte Hornets, where his playing time gradually waned. Hernangómez’s peak in the NBA remains his rookie season with the Knicks. At Madison Square Garden, he played about 18 minutes per game for 72 contests and scored a career-high (for now) eight points a night.
Coming into the season, it seemed like Hernangómez was essentially just going to be another body for Van Gundy. Hayes is a more urgent development project, while Melli showed some intriguing flashes in his first season and seemed like a better fit next to Zion Williamson because of his theoretical shooting.
Once their prospects didn’t pan out, Hernangómez went from forgotten to vital. Over his last eight games, he is averaging seven points and six rebounds in about 20 minutes. That’s only about five minutes less than Adams and around the same number of points and rebounds, albeit on a slightly worse field goal percentage.
Most importantly, he has added a steady presence to a a Pelicans’ bench that has been one of the worst in the NBA this season. Hernangomez isn’t flashy but being steady and solid is more important for the Pels.
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.