Milwaukee Bucks: 3 frontcourt players to target in free agency
By Dalton Sell
Milwaukee Bucks: 3 frontcourt players to target in free agency – Juan Hernangómez
A four-year-pro out of Spain, Juan Hernangómez is an underrated soon-to-be free agent that teams such as the Milwaukee Bucks should take a flyer on. The 25-year-old has spent the majority of his career serving as a role player for the Denver Nuggets, proving to be a serviceable piece.
After averaging just 3.1 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 0.6 assists in 34 games with the Nuggets to start the year, Denver shipped Hernangómez to the Minnesota Timberwolves midseason. The T-Wolves plugged the 25-year-old into their starting lineup for 14 games, where Hernangómez had a breakout stint before the pandemic hit. Averaging 12.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game, the forward turned some heads, taking advantage of the opportunity.
Aside from the prolific points increase, another aspect of Hernangómez’s game that impressed was the big man’s 3-point shooting. In Denver, Hernangómez shot 25.0 percent from deep on 1.8 attempts per game, but received the green light in Minnesota, upping that number to 42.0 percent on 4.9 attempts.
While he reinvented his offense in Minnesota, Hernangómez’s subpar defensive presence carried over from Denver. This inferior defensive play could make the big man a hard sell for the Bucks and their reliance on that aspect of the game.
Still, a 25-year-old stretch four that can shoot the long-ball efficiently will not be on the open market for long in today’s NBA, meaning Juan Hernangómez will have plenty of potential suitors this offseason. For a Milwaukee team that advocates a “let it fly” mentality, Hernangomez would fit right in offensively.