Last updated: 9/30/2019
Last updated: 9/30/2019
Last updated: 9/30/2019
2025 Free Agents - Bruno Fernando
In '22-'23, Fernando fell out of the rotation for the Rockets after even starting some games early in the season, and was traded to Atlanta at the trade deadline, where he started his career. He averaged a career high in 15 minutes per game in '23-'24, showing some flashes of decent play but also showing some of his questions. His feel for the game is lacking, as he doesn't pass well out of the post or as the roll man. He doesn't have the ability to stretch the floor, as he has also only hit six of the 49 threes that he has attempted. On defense, Fernando doesn't have great size or athleticism, and hasn't been able to provide rim protection. His block rate has been decent but he is not someone that shuts down the rim or prevents a lot of shots. Fernando has shown some good flashes in brief minutes, but he still needs to prove he belongs in the league. He was only able to get a non-guaranteed contract in the 2024 offseason, but he did enough to make the Raptors' opening night roster.
Summary
Fernando will be an unrestricted free agent with a $2.3 million cap hold and Non-Bird Rights. This means that the highest starting salary the Raptors could offer him using the Non-Bird Exception is $3.4 million. This should be enough to retain Fernando, since he settled for the minimum to come to Toronto. Alternatively, the Raptors could use their Mid-Level Exception or Bi-Annual Exception (if available) to re-sign Fernando if he demands more than $3.4 million. Other teams will have multiple ways to sign Fernando as even teams without cap space could possibly use the Non-Taxpayer MLE, Room MLE, Taxpayer MLE, or Bi-Annual Exception to sign him. It's also likely that Fernando only gets minimum offers again, and he may not even get fully-guaranteed offers.
Cap Considerations
Orlando Robinson (1 year minimum, partially-guaranteed, 2024) Tristan Thompson (1 year minimum, non-guaranteed, 2024) Mo Bamba (1 year minimum, 2024)