The New York Knicks have traded second-year center Willy Hernangomez to the Charlotte Hornets, despite the promise shown by the young Spaniard.
According to Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports, the New York Knicks are trading center Willy Hernangomez to the Charlotte Hornets.
New York is finalizing trade to send center Willy Hernangomez to Charlotte, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 7, 2018
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski followed up that report with the news that the Hornets will send forward Johnny O’Bryant and two future second-round picks to the Knicks for Hernangomez.
Charlotte is acquiring New York's Willy Hernangomez for Johnny O'Bryant and two future second-round picks, league source tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 7, 2018
Charania also notes that the second rounders from the Hornets will come in the years’ 2020 and 2021.
Sources: Charlotte is sending its own 2020 and 2021 second-rounders to New York in Hernangomez deal.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 7, 2018
News broke earlier this week that Hernangomez and his representatives asked management for a trade out of New York after he was getting little to no playing time by head coach Jeff Hornacek. And in the wake of forward Kristaps Porzingis tearing his ACL, management appears to be shopping its assets before Thursday’s NBA trade deadline. According to ESPN’s Ian Begley, the Knicks are open to trading shooting guard Courtney Lee and centers’ Kyle O’Quinn and Joakim Noah.
This season, the 23-year-old Hernangomez is averaging 4.3 points, 2.6 rebounds and 0.3 blocks per game in nine minutes a night. He is also under contract through the 2019-20 season at less than two million per year. The role Hernangomez will take on with the Hornets is not yet known. Tuesday night, the center made his first appearance since the Knicks’ 103-73 loss to the Boston Celtics on January 31st and finished with two points, a rebound and a block in two minutes in a loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.
On the other hand, the Knicks have O’Bryant who will be an unrestricted free agent after this season. This season, the 24-year-old forward is averaging 4.8 points, 2.6 rebounds and 0.2 blocks per game in 10.5 minutes a night. The Knicks will be the fourth team O’Bryant has played for in his four-year career (O’Bryant has played for the Bucks, Denver Nuggets, and Hornets).
The NBA trade deadline is Thursday afternoon at three o’clock eastern time.
