When Walter Herrmann announced that he would not participate in the Vegas Pre-Olympic Tournament in order to get fully prepared for the NBA season, many of us thought this year we would see his breakthrough in the best league of the world.
But we are still waiting.
The Argentine forward's stats in his sophomore year are very different from those that put him in the second best rookie team in last year's regular season.
4.2 points, 0.3 assists, 2.2 rebounds, 10.8 minutes and 39.1 per cent in field shots in Charlotte's 16 games -- of which he started none -- are not the numbers of an Olympic champ.
And Herrmann is well aware of that.
Last season, his stats improved consistently, to the point of starting 17 of the 64 games he played for the Bobcats. He averaged 9 points, 2.7 rebounds and more than 50 percent in field shots in 19.5 minutes per game during the season.
The Bobcats' forward situation is really strange. Adam Morrison's injury before the season opening was supposed to give Herrmann more space, but instead of driving him, it seems to have taken out his zip. Even Charlotte, with a 7-12 record, tried to take advantage of Anderson Varejao's situation to sign him. Even though both Morrison and Varejao -- who'll stay with the Cavaliers -- are much bigger players and have more mobility in the paint than Herrmann, the Venado Tuerto native seemed to be the perfect fit for the small forward position, rotating to the 4 if needed.
But, evidently, new coach Sam Vincent didn't think so. The minutes Herrmann had won in last year's regular season went to Matt Carroll (23.5) and Jared Dudley (14.5). Herrmann, third to last in minutes played, is only ahead of rookie Jermareo Davidson and veteran Othella Harrington in the forward spot.
The Argentine forward's stats in his sophomore year, are very different from those that put him in the second best rookie team in last year's regular season.
Vincent uses a shallow team to get the most out of his key players. Gerald Wallace, Emeka Okafor, Jason Richardson and Raymond Felton are the only players with more than 30 minutes a game. All of them are starters and lead the team in stats: Okafor leads in rebounds (10.6) and blocks (1.95), Felton in assists (6.7) and Wallace in points (17.5). Only two other players average more than 20 minutes per game: Jeff McInis and Matt Carroll.
There's a big difference between this season and 2006-07: three had more than 30 points (Gerald Wallace, Raymond Felton and Emeka Okafor), five had more than 20 (Adam Morrison, Brevin Knight, Matt Carroll, Sean May, Derek Anderson) and then there was Herrmann with 19.5.
Clearly, this approach doesn't benefit the role players -- Herrmann included. They are just an occasional cast with little presence in the rotation.
Walter Herrmann arrived in the NBA led by Michael Jordan with an annual contract and a one year option from the ACB's Unicaja Malaga, with whom he won an ACB League title and a Copa del Rey.
The Argentine forward's life is signed by tragedy. On the 20th of July, 2003, he lost his mother, his girlfriend and his sister in a traffic accident, an event that changed his life for ever. The same day in 2004, after winning a South American tournament with his national team and defeating Brazil, becoming the highest scorer and MVP, he lost his father, who died of a heart attack.
With the support of a solid environment, Herrmann was able to weather the crisis and became part of the biggest achievement in Argentine Basketball since the 1950 world championship: the Olympic gold in 2004, and he was a key player in the final game against Italy.
Married to Alana since 2006, among his achievements, besides the gold in Greece, we can mention two titles with Atenas de Cordoba in the Argentine league, a Copa del Rey and an ACB title with Unicaja Malaga. He was the MVP of the Spanish League in 2002 with the Fuenlabrada FC, and won two slam dunk contests in Argentina, in 1999 and 2000.
Herrmann's NBA career is full of ups and downs. With his impressive performance late last season he thrilled many and proved to be capable of playing in this league. We are still waiting for him this year.
His first goal is to find his role in the team.