The New York Knicks appear to have struck gold from overseas when they drafted Kristaps Porzingis with the fourth overall pick in the most recent NBA Draft. The Knicks also happen to hold the rights to Porzingis' former teammate Guillermo "Willy" Hernangomez who is currently playing in Spain and they hope to be able to bring him over next year, according to Nacho Duque of Marca.com, to see if lightning can strike twice.
Hernangomez and Porzingis played together in Spain the past two years before Porzingis came to the NBA. Hernangomez played two seasons for Sevilla before joining Real Madrid this season. Hernangomez's contract with Real Madrid is up after this season and he would like to be able to come to the NBA but Madrid is reportedly planning to do everything they can to retain him.
Right now it seems likely that Hernangomez will come over to the NBA because that has always been a dream of his, he will get to play with his good friend Porzingis and he is looking for more opportunity. The Knicks have reportedly been keeping a very close eye on Hernangomez and they have liked what they have seen. The 21-year-old center was the 35th overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers but they traded his rights to the Knicks.
Hernangomez is 6-foot-11, 255 pounds and Phil Jackson thinks he has a shot to be a solid NBA player. Jackson called Hernangomez "a stronger version of Luis Scola," according to Charley Rosen of ESPN New York, which is pretty high praise considering Scola has carved himself out a nice NBA career.
In 18 games played with Real Madrid so far this season Hernangomez is averaging 6.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 0.7 blocks in just 13.2 minutes per game. Hernangomez says that he is hoping for more playing time wherever he plays next year and while that won't be a guarantee with the Knicks the NBA does provide quite an opportunity for him. The Knicks are high on the 21-year-old and he will have Porzingis to make him comfortable so it seems like the Knicks might be adding another European to their roster next season.
