The Knicks Will Reportedly Trade Willy Hernangomez To The Hornets

The New York Knicks have experienced a ton of frontcourt turnover in the last day. First, the team announced that its superstar, Kristaps Porzingis, will miss the remainder of the year after tearing his ACL. Now the team will lose another member of its frontcourt, as New York has decided to trade Willy Hernangomez.

A first-team All-Rookie selection last year, Hernangomez has struggled to get on the court this season and has been open about his desire to get more playing time, whether it is in New York or elsewhere. The Knicks have decided it will be the latter, as they will move the second-year center to Charlotte in a move that was broken by Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports.

Charania and Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN confirmed New York’s return for the native of Spain: A pair of second-round draft picks and power forward Johnny O’Bryant, whose contract is up after this season.

It’s an interesting move for both sides, as the Knicks get a pair of second-round draft picks to add to their list of assets while the Hornets get a young center who averaged 8.2 points and seven rebounds in 18.4 minutes per game last year. Charania reported that the picks in question will manifest themselves in 2020 and 2021, and will come directly from the Hornets.

It’s hardly a perfect deal — New York isn’t getting a ton back that can help them in the near future for a young and talented player, and Charlotte has a massive center log jam unless it trades Dwight Howard, Cody Zeller, or Frank Kaminsky — but it’s one that makes sense for both sides.