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Report: Utah Jazz showing interest in Knicks’ Hernangomez

By Ryan Aston

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 6: Willy Hernangomez #14 of the New York Knicks warms up before the game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Madison Square Garden on December 6, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Matteo Marchi/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 6: Willy Hernangomez #14 of the New York Knicks warms up before the game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Madison Square Garden on December 6, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Matteo Marchi/Getty Images) /
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According to the New York Daily News, the Utah Jazz could be coveting New York Knicks big man Willy Hernangomez.

The NBA trade deadline is upon us and with just over two weeks remaining until the big day, the Utah Jazz look to be one of the league’s more active teams. Multiple Jazzmen have already featured in trade chatter. Chief among them are Rodney Hood and Derrick Favors. Joe Johnson, Alec Burks and Ricky Rubio have also been mentioned as potentially moveable parts.

But who are the players that Jazz GM Dennis Lindsey covets? The Chicago Bulls’ Nikola Mirotic is one player that’s been mentioned, but he may not be the only big man on Lindsey’s radar. According to the New York Daily News’ Stefan Bondy, the Knicks’ Willy Hernangomez could also be a consideration.

Writes Bondy —

"Hernangomez has received the most attention of New York’s centers from potential trade partners, according to sources. One team to show interest is the Utah Jazz."

Last season, Hernangomez captured All-Rookie first team honors after averaging 8.2 points and 7.0 rebounds per game for New York. He’s also been name-checked by Knicks president Steve Mills and others as one of the team’s building blocks for the future.

However, the emergence of Enes Kanter may have the Knicks willing to consider a move. The former Jazzman has become one of New York’s key cogs since arriving via the Carmelo Anthony trade. As a result, Hernangomez has racked up multiple DNP-CDs and is averaging less than 10 minutes per game in 21 appearances this season.

Still, he’s only 23, has shown that he has tremendous upside and is on a cap-friendly contract at around $1.5 million per year through 2020, the last year of which is non-guaranteed.

He’s not a tremendous floor-spacer (although he has knocked down 41 percent of his career shots from 10-16 feet from the hoop), but he has athleticism, some mobility and skill on both ends of the floor. In particular, he’s got nice footwork in the post and great awareness in the screen-roll and when moving without the ball.

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Hernangomez could be a nightly double-double guy and core piece for the right team.

If the Jazz could also acquire a big in the vein of Mirotic to help stretch the defense, Hernangomez could join him and Rudy Gobert as part of a nice three-man frontcourt rotation.

In any event, the Jazz do already have a solid back-up center in Ekpe Udoh. The Knicks’ asking price is also a consideration. Nevertheless, there’s a lot to like about a Hernangomez trade.

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