By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The Toronto Raptors are expected to place 26-year-old forward/center Bruno Fernando on the waivers list over the next few hours to avoid picking up guaranteed salary for the remainder of the 2024-25 season.
The decision has been confirmed by multiple reports in the United States, including notes about links between the Angolan big and Turkish Airlines EuroLeague outfit Fenerbahce Beko.
It remains unclear whether Fernando will consider options outside the NBA as a free agent. However, potentially becoming an unrestricted free agent will indeed open a path toward Fener.
A veteran of 226 appearances in the league based in North America, he was selected with the 34th overall pick of the 2019 draft, coming out of Maryland. Before joining the Raptors as a free agent in August, he went through two stints with the Atlanta Hawks and also played for the Houston Rockets and Boston Celtics. In the 2024-25 Regular Season, he averaged 3.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per contest over 17 appearances, including two starts.
Representing Angola, Fernando made his way to the 2023 FIBA World Cup, besides being capped in FIBA Qualifying Tournaments before the 2016 and 2024 Olympic Games.
As for the team coached by Sarunas Jasikevicius, an 11-7 record is tied for fourth in the EuroLeague standings, 1.5 games behind co-leaders AS Monaco and Olympiacos. In the Turkiye Sigorta Basketbol Super Ligi, a 12-1 start tops the table, two games clear of Tofas, Galatasaray, and Anadolu Efes.
Photo Credit: FIBA