Minnesota Timberwolves: Ranking Anthony Edwards and the rest of their offseason moves
By Ethan Becker
No. 3: Re-signing Juan Hernangomez
Last season for the Timberwolves, Juan Hernangomez certainly didn’t disappoint with his 12.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 0.3 blocks per game while on the squad, and his three-year, $21 dollar deal to come back to Minnesota is great for the team.
The main question surrounding Hernangomez is with defense. While he’s a good shooter and would work nicely as a floor spacer, Minnesota also needs some major help defending down low, which Hernangomez hasn’t been able to provide at this point. It’s this reason that makes some fans wonder if it wouldn’t have been better to trade Hernangomez than James Johnson in the deal that brought Minnesota Rick Rubio. And, with the signing of Ed Davis, it seems like Hernangomez will be relegated to the bench role, at least for the start of the season.
Still, the deal was good in terms of money spent, and leaves Minnesota with a little bit of flexibility as the third year of Hernangomez’s deal is a team option. Should he not produce the kind of numbers and play that Minnesota is looking for in him, they’d likely be able to flip him for a package that provides at least a little bit of return value.
Either way, Hernangomez will be a great addition to the Wolves’ second unit. His high octane offensive style will pair well with either Anthony Edwards, who could use the mentoring of Hernangomez from his (admittedly limited) time in the league, or with Josh Okogie, who could provide some much needed defensive pressure on the perimeter.