Juancho Hernangómez rules out Real Madrid return

Juancho Hernangómez has been without a team since 28 February - the day he was released by the Toronto Raptors. The Spain international landed in Canada a few months earlier on 28 July on a one-year contract worth $2.3 million. But last month, he left the team after making 42 appearance and an average of 2.9 points (25.4% from the field) and 2.9 rebounds in an average of 14.6 minutes on court.

It was the latest setback in what has been a tough journey in the NBA for the power forward. He has been linked to six franchises in the last three years - from the moment he joined the Minnesota Timberwolves in February 2020, his first destination after leaving the Denver Nuggets (who chose him as the number 15 pick in the 2016 draft; he spent three and a half seasons with the team).

Once he had been waived by the Raptors, Juancho had to wait 48 hours to find out if any other franchise had claimed his contract. After that deadline had passed, he was free to trade with any team in the North American League - or even to return to Europe. There was only one problem: on 1 March, the transfer market closed in the Euroleague and also the option for NBA teams to register players for the playoffs.

So Hernangómez is currently without a team… although he has had offers. Or at least there has been a knock on the door. According to Cadena SER, Real Madrid sounded out the man from Madrid when they heard he was without a team, Juancho’s response was: “No, not at the moment”.

Juancho’s desire, according to the Spanish broadcaster, is to find a new home in the North American League. The NBA regular season ends on 9 April 9 - in less than a month’s time. And with no playoff spot, Hernangómez would have limited playing time with a World Cup awaiting him later this summer.