9:30pm: The Raptors have officially signed Fernando, according to NBA.com’s transaction log.
7:11am: The Raptors have agreed to terms on a contract with free agent big man Bruno Fernando, a source tells Blake Murphy of Sportsnet.ca (Twitter link).
According to Murphy, it’ll be a non-guaranteed deal that will give Fernando a chance to compete for a spot on Toronto’s 15-man regular season roster. He would assure himself of some guaranteed money by making the team.
The contract won’t include Exhibit 10 language, Murphy adds, so Fernando wouldn’t be ticketed for the Raptors 905 in the G League if he’s waived before the season.
A five-year veteran who was a second-round pick in 2019, Fernando began his NBA career with the Hawks before being traded to Boston in August 2021 and then to Houston in February 2022. He was dealt back to Atlanta in February 2023.
After playing eight games for the Hawks down the stretch of the 2022/23 season, Fernando didn’t play much at all in the first half of ’23/24, appearing in just 13 of Atlanta’s first 49 games for an average of 6.5 minutes per contest. However, he was thrust into a larger role in the second half due to a series of frontcourt injuries, averaging 7.6 PPG and 5.2 RPG while shooting 59.4% from the floor and 70.1% from the line over his final 32 games (18.7 MPG).
Fernando, who will turn 26 later this month, was waived by Atlanta earlier this week before his $2.7MM salary for 2024/25 could become guaranteed.
The Raptors are currently carrying 14 players on guaranteed standard contracts, plus Jamison Battle on an Exhibit 10 contract. Once Fernando’s deal is official, the club will have 19 players under contract, including its three on two-way deals.
It wouldn’t be surprising to see Toronto bring in another veteran or two besides Fernando to compete for that 15th regular season roster spot.
I immediately got Brunco Caboclo flashbacks. Man, those were dark days
Dark days? The Raptors finished 1st in 3 of the 4 years (2nd the other) Bruno sat on the bench. Dwayne Casey won coach of the year and Raptors averaged 53 wins per season.
Bruno is 2 years away from being 2 years away.
I miss Bruno. I think he is ready. Silver give him another chance.
Seems like Okafor was blackballed. Not even a 2nd chance?
I was actually hoping he or Lamar stevens would be coming for our 14th spot.
We probably shouldnt be talking about him….
My understanding is that the Raptors will then have 21 players (not 19) under contract, as in addition to Battle, they also have Quincy Guerrier and Tyler Perry on Exhibit 10 contracts (signed right after the draft); is this incorrect?
Neither of those signings is official. Unclear at this point whether Battle, Guerrier, and Perry will all get a chance to participate fully in training camp — sometimes Exhibit 10 deals are just made to get the player’s G League rights and the player ends up being under contract very briefly.
Thank you for the clarification of your count of 19 contracts (consistent with your roster count post of July 17th). Unofficial/reported only signings do provide roster flexibility. If as you suggest, some more vets like Fernando can be drummed up to compete for that 15th roster spot created by the loss of Vezenkov, then the Exhibit 10 sign & waive for Raptors905 roster purposes scenario (no training camp) does indeed seem a likely one for Perry & Guerrier.
Raps should have signed Weynen Gabriel. Fernando shot 12% from the perimeter!
Wenyen already has signed in Europe.
Darn. Had no idea he did…