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.