*This content was translated by AI.View Original
Bucheon Hana Bank and Incheon Shinhan Bank executed a trade ahead of the new season to fill their respective needs. Hana Bank decided to send Park Jin-young (22) to Shinhan Bank to open up more playing time for her, while acquiring guard Heo Yu-jung (21) in return.
Hana Bank and Shinhan Bank officially announced the trade swapping Park Jin-young and Heo Yu-jung on the 13th.
Shinhan Bank stated through its official social media account, "Park Jin-young, who will add vitality to both offense and defense based on her quick speed and powerful play, has newly joined Shinhan Bank."
Hana Bank also announced the news, stating, "Heo Yu-jung has newly joined the Hana Bank women's basketball team through a trade with Shinhan Bank."
This trade was not merely a decision to reorganize roster strength. It reflected not only that the positions needed by both teams aligned, but also carried the meaning of opening up more playing opportunities for the players.
In particular, Hana Bank deliberated on Park Jin-young's long-term future and utility.
Park Jin-young, a 178cm forward, is a promising player who graduated from Samcheongpo Girls' High School and was selected by Hana Bank with the second overall pick in the first round of the 2022~2023 WKBL Rookie Draft.
In the recent season's regular league, she appeared in 28 games, averaging 16 minutes and 3 seconds on the court while recording 4.86 points and 2.1 rebounds. Her two-point field goal percentage was 42.4%, and her three-point field goal percentage was 34.4%.
She further elevated her presence in the playoffs. She appeared in four games, averaging 18 minutes and 38 seconds while scoring 7.3 points.
She was clearly a resource who had shown potential. However, the positional competition within Hana Bank was fierce.
A Hana Bank official explained in a phone call with StarNews, "It was a process of continuously testing and competing players until the start of the season," adding, "Jin-young also prepared diligently, but the positional competition was quite intense."
The official continued, "From the player's perspective, there may have been pressure or stress coming from the competition," stating, "We felt that Jin-young needed a place where she could play more actively."
Coincidentally, Shinhan Bank's situation and interests aligned. Shinhan Bank needed to reinforce its forward resources and had the opportunity to utilize Park Jin-young more aggressively.
Conversely, Hana Bank needed guard reinforcement.
Heo Yu-jung, who will now wear the Hana Bank uniform, is a 174cm guard. After graduating from Bundang Business High School, she was selected by Shinhan Bank with the third overall pick in the first round of the 2023~2024 WKBL Rookie Draft.
She has not yet secured sufficient playing time on the professional stage. In the recent season's regular league, she appeared in two games, averaging three minutes and seven seconds, while recording 1.0 rebound and 0.5 assist.
From Hana Bank's perspective, it was a judgment that would add new possibilities to its guard lineup while also providing Heo Yu-jung with more opportunities.
A Hana Bank official explained, "Shinhan Bank was in a situation where they needed forwards and said they could utilize Park Jin-young more if she went there," adding, "We were in a situation where we needed guards. Because Shinhan Bank had the resource of Heo Yu-jung, we started talking to each other."
The official emphasized, "The intent was not to reduce players' opportunities, but to open up opportunities at places where they could play more and change the atmosphere for both sides."
Ultimately, this trade was a choice not only to complement the strength of both teams but also to open up new opportunities for both Park Jin-young and Heo Yu-jung.
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*This content was translated by AI.View Original
