The Hawks intend to guarantee Bruno Fernando‘s $2.58MM contract for 2023/24, reports Lauren L. Williams of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (via Twitter).
Fernando’s salary had previously been fully non-guaranteed, and today was the early salary guarantee deadline for the Hawks to decide whether they wanted to keep his cap hit on the roster. According to Williams, they’ll do just that.
The 34th pick of the 2019 draft, Fernando spent his first two NBA seasons with Atlanta before being traded to Boston in August 2021. The Celtics traded him to Houston six months later, and he spent a year with the Rockets until he was sent back to Atlanta at the February deadline.
In 39 combined games with the Rockets and Hawks in ’22/23, the 24-year-old big man averaged 3.9 PPG, 3.5 RPG and 0.9 BPG in 10.4 MPG. He was the third string center for Atlanta down the stretch, only receiving 41 total minutes over eight games.
Fernando’s contract is non-guaranteed at $2.72MM for ’24/25, and features a non-guaranteed $2.85MM team option in ’25/26.
There was something in the air that night
The dollars were right, Fernando
They were shining there for you and me
For a guaranty, Fernando
Though I never thought that we could lose
There’s no regret
If I had to do the same again
I would, my friend, Fernando
If I had to do the same again
I would, my friend, Fernando
Amazing
I like it.
And good for Bruno. A gritty player who I would love to see get some extra minutes.