Cleveland Cavaliers: Willy Hernangomez could be a steal

The Cleveland Cavaliers are the favorites in the Eastern Conference, nobody is disputing that. They still need a few pieces to gear up for a championship repeat, though, and New York Knicks big man Guillermo Hernangomez could be a sneaky addition for general manager David Griffin.

The Cleveland Cavaliers need more depth down low for both their offensive and defensive. The Cavs may be able to find that in Guillermo “Willy” Hernangomez, a big man with quality skill. He has played well in his time with the New York Knicks in limited minutes, showing loads of potential.

If the Cavs make a move for Hernangomez, it would really take a load off Tristan Thompson for the long-term. Hernangomez has barely scratched the service of his potential, as the New York Knicks are only putting him out there for about 13.7 minutes per game.

In the playoffs, teams need young legs to give the veterans a breather. That’s what the Cavs are looking for as the season progresses and a Finals push ensues. At 22-years-old, Hernangomez would provide a much-needed energy boost to the bench.

At 6-foot-11, Hernangomez uses his size well in the low post, especially on the offensive end. For a player who is not going to jump out of the gym, he is crafty. Here are some highlights of that against the Orlando Magic in a game a few weeks back.

He finds a way to carve out space with his positioning on the weak side offensive glass, where his size allows him to obtain easy buckets. It helps when you’re a near seven-footer.

In the pick-and-roll game, he really excels. He finds open spots in the defense and is adept enough to knock down open looks.

He’s had great shot selection this season as he’s essentially leading the Knicks in field goal percentage 56.3 percent. Only Marshall Plumlee, who has appeared in three games, has a high field goal percentage. He would add a new wrinkle in the pick-and-roll in that it’s not just an obvious lob pass.

His polished skills lead to great ball fakes he uses to consistently get off a clean shot and would add a new layer to the Cavs high screen offensive game plan. In addition, he’s displayed some pretty moves and putbacks in this matchup against the Denver Nuggets.

On a Cavs roster that has enough shooters on the outside, he would be a great addition as a presence down low on the second unit. That enables shooters like Channing Frye and Iman Shumpert to get wide-open looks.

In the playoffs, open looks are harder to come by, and Hernangomez could definitely be a catalyst in that way. He can make things happen for himself and others with his willingness to pass the ball.

The other aspect of his game that’s particularly intriguing is his toughness. In a November game versus the Atlanta Hawks, Hernangomez was holding his both own defensively and on the glass while matched up against Dwight Howard. He wasn’t perfect but he really frustrated Howard with his physicality and relentless rebounding.