NBA Trade Deadline 2018: The 20 best players available

Honorable mention: Willy Hernangomez

Toward the end of the 2016-17 season, Willy Hernangomez looked like the perfect frontcourt complement to New York Knicks star Kristaps Porzingis. Over his final 20 outings—16 of which he started—he chipped in 11.8 points on 51.0 percent shooting, 9.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 0.9 steals in just 23.6 minutes, leaving Knicks fans rightfully encouraged about his long-term future with the franchise.

This season, however, Hernangomez finds himself firmly buried behind Enes Kanter and Kyle O’Quinn on New York’s center depth chart. According to Marc Berman of the New York Post, the Knicks “still view Hernangomez as a building block,” but the first-team All-Rookie big man admitted his frustration to Berman in late December, saying, “It’s been really hard for me.”

The Knicks reportedly have “entertained more inquiries” about Hernangomez “than any other player on their roster,” according to Berman, but they want “a prime talent in return.” Basketball Insiders’ Steve Kyler reported that “while Hernangomez loves the team and the city, he wants to play, and his camp has been urging the Knicks to make something happen either way — play him or trade him.”

Selling low on a promising 23-year-old big man would be ill-advised, particularly since both Kanter and O’Quinn have player options for the 2018-19 season and could thus decide to become unrestricted free agents this summer. Something has to give in New York’s overly crowded frontcourt rotation, though, so don’t be surprised if you see Hernangomez’s name floating around the rumor mill between now and Feb. 8.

Next: Honorable Mention: Ersan Ilyasova