9:02pm: The signing is official, according to a team press release.
10:35am: Rookie center Vernon Carey Jr., the No. 32 pick in this year’s draft, is signing a four-year contract with the Hornets, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks (Twitter link).
While the exact value of Carey’s deal isn’t yet known, Marks says it will likely have the most guaranteed money of any contract signed by a 2020 second-round pick this fall. Charlotte will use a small portion of its remaining cap room to complete the signing.
In his first and only college season at Duke, Carey averaged 17.8 PPG, 8.8 RPG, and 1.6 BPG in 31 games (24.9 MPG). He shot 57.7% from the field and even made 38.1% of his tries from beyond the arc, albeit on just 21 three-point attempts.
Carey is one of four players selected by the Hornets in this year’s draft. LaMelo Ball, the team’s lone first-rounder, will soon sign a rookie scale contract. I’d expect a standard contract for No. 42 pick Nick Richards and a two-way deal for No. 56 selection Grant Riller, but we’ll have to wait to see what Charlotte has in mind.
These types of bigs are getting flushed out. I wouldn’t be suprised if the kid that was drafted by Kentucky has a better career than him.
If he can raise his FT percentage to around 75 or so he will be a viable option at center.
If hes capable of hitting 35% or better of his 3’s he definitely will have a chance to be around a while in the league if he can hit threes and rebound.
Hernagomez was able to shoot 3s & rebound. Bigs who aren’t agile won’t stick because P&R defense is key in today’s game.
Hernangomez shot .227 from 3s this past season. Completely fell apart. His FT% also plummeted to .627
Hernangomez is 250. Carey Jr is 270.
20 extra pounds down in the post makes a difference as well.
Vermon Carey Jr reminds me more of Thomas Bryant than Willy Hernangomez.
Even after hernangomez shot 38% from 3 and 70% from FT(in the 18-19 season) Charlotte still wasn’t sold on him because he couldn’t play defense. I like the bryant comparison. Bryant really got lucky though. La gave up on him and dwight Howard was on hurt that season, so he was always start and play significant minutes. Charlotte has 2 centers infront of him currently(zeller & biyombo) & if theyre a lottery team next year they might pick a big.
Hernangomez’s style fits better up against teams that want to play small ball in this league. I don’t think Charlotte used him correctly. I think hed fit better with the warriors as a backup to Looney if he can regain his 3p% and FT%, or even Rockets as a back up to Wood. But yes, he definitely cant match up against bigger stronger centers or forwards in the league. He played in a division with Bam, Vucevic, John Collins,
Despite his horrible 3s % and FT% Hernangomez still had a PER of 19.2, little bit below his career average of 19.7