Ricky’s Wolves tie Juancho: 21 million in 3 years

The Timberwolves already have something to hold on to. A solid and wicked project with which they can attempt the assault on the playoffs, which they have only reached once in the last 16 years, something that saves them from the worst active streak, that the Kings continue to have, in an eternal desert since 2006. The Wolves are still at their core, lost since Kevin Garnett’s departure back in 2007, but they seem to be planting seeds that can germinate, who knows, in a competitive team. This is demonstrated by the latest movements, starting with the departure of Andrew Wiggins and the arrival of D’Angelo Russell, a transfer approved by a Karl-Anthony Towns that a friend won and got rid of a promise that has remained (for now ) in that and with which it was never fully understood. The signing of Malik Beasley and the return home of Ricky Rubio meant good omens for the franchise, whose last decision has been to renew Juancho Hernangómez for three years, at a rate of 21 million dollars.

The Spanish thus complies with the forecasts that indicated that he would continue in Minnesota. The good work in the team in the 14 games he played last year pointed to its continuity, and the signing has occurred after the forward went to free agency on the 20th. The announcement also takes place only minutes. after Shams Charania reported the agreement to which Willy, the eldest of the Hernangómez, had arrived with the Pelicans, for those who will play the last season. Therefore, both brothers remain in the best league in the world and will share the Western Conference after Willy wore the Hornets jersey last year, in the East. Juancho, like the eldest son of the family, was trained in the lower categories of Real Madrid, although he made his professional debut in Estudiantes, making the jump to the NBA in 2016, when he was chosen in the 15th position of the draft by the Denver Nuggets .

The power forward, who can also play forward, was in the Colorado franchise until last year, when he was traded to the Wolves.. The making of Mike Malone’s squad left few opportunities for Juancho, who was proclaimed world champion with Spain at the 2019 Chiuna World Cup, but did not have many minutes in the NBA. The improvement was quickly noticed in the Wolves: Ryan Saunders, with the lost season, decided to try new things for the future and gave the Spanish title as soon as he landed in Minnesota. The prominence increased when he began to enjoy almost 30 minutes per game for the only 12 he had in Denver, and so did his statistics. On the Nuggets, just 3.1 points in 12 minutes; in his new home, 12.9 points and 7.3 rebounds, with 45.3% in field goals and an extraordinary 42% in triples. He played 14 games, all of them starting, and got 4 double-doubles, although his season was cut short prematurely by the coronavirus pandemic, which ended the season of some Wolves that were not in the Disney bubble.

With this, the Wolves have a competitive squad a priori with which they could aspire to the playoffs in a West in which there will be many opponents and only eight seats (play-in mediante). Karl-Anthony Towns, D’Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley (who came to Minnesota with the Spaniard and averaged 20.7 points in those 14 games) and newcomer Rickly Rubio are the backbone of a team that also includes people like Jarrett Culver … or Juancho Hernangómez, of course. That seems to have found its place in the NBA and will have to continue making the most of its minutes and showing that it can make a definite niche in the best league in the world. For now, he is on the right track. And the Timberwolves promise something more than in recent years, where they have moved through marshy terrain with sainetes included. (Jimmy Butler at the helm), and they will try to end a gargantuan crisis and write a new page in their history. One that stars a certain Kevin Garnett… and that’s it.