Bruno Fernando quickly found a new team after being waived by the Atlanta Hawks this week. The former Maryland star is heading north to join the Toronto Raptors, according to Blake Murphy of Sportsnet.
Murphy reported, “The Raptors are signing Bruno Fernando to a non-guaranteed deal. He will join the team for training camp and compete for a roster spot. Some guarantees will apply if he makes the team.”
Last season, Fernando appeared in 45 games, his fifth NBA season, averaging 6.3 points and 4.3 rebounds per game while shooting 58.3 percent from the field. His release from Atlanta was unexpected but cleared a spot for the Hawks to sign free agent Dominick Barlow.
Fernando expressed his gratitude on Twitter after his release: “Nah, THANK YOU [FOR REAL]!! Love [fingers-crossed emoji]”
Fernando’s stint with the Hawks was his second time with the team, having been drafted from Maryland before playing for the Houston Rockets and Boston Celtics. Over five seasons, he averaged four points and 3.3 rebounds per game. Known for his energetic play and strong presence on the court, Fernando will now join a Raptors team coming off a 25-57 season, but featuring promising young players like RJ Barrett, Scottie Barnes, and Immanuel Quickley. He was also reportedly a target for Turkish club Fenerbahçe, coached by former Maryland guard Sarunas Jasikevicius.
Originally, the Hawks had until June 29 to guarantee Fernando’s $2.7 million contract, but they extended the deadline to July 10 and then August 1 before ultimately deciding to release him. They subsequently signed Dominick Barlow to a two-way contract.
An Angolan native, Fernando has made significant NBA history, becoming the first from Angola to be drafted, play, and reach the NBA playoffs and conference finals. Fernando and current Terp Selton Miguel missed out on qualifying for the Olympics earlier this summer.
During his college career at Maryland, Fernando earned Big Ten all-freshman honors in 2018 and was named to the Big Ten first team and all-defensive team in 2019. As a sophomore, he averaged 13.6 points, 10.6 rebounds, two assists, and 1.9 blocks per game. The Philadelphia 76ers selected him with the 34th overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft.
