With the NBA Draft Combine getting underway today, figured we'd take a quick look at where the experts see Bruno Fernando going now that the lottery is set and scouts, GMs get a chance to see guys go up against other NBA-type talents.
Jeff Goodman did a post-lottery mock for Stadium and he has Bruno going at the end of the 1st round:
30. Milwaukee Bucks – Bruno Fernando, 6-10, 240, F, Soph., Maryland
Fernando is a big, strong frontcourt guy whose offensive game has developed over the past year. He plays with intensity and can really rebound and run the court. He’ll ultimately be a rim-runner type of big man.
Sam Vecenie with The Athletic has Bruno going a spot higher:
29. San Antonio Spurs (from TOR) — Bruno Fernando
6-10 center, sophomore, Maryland
The Spurs are one of the few teams in the NBA that utilizes the center position to a significant extent. But behind LaMarcus Aldridge and Jakob Poeltl, the team doesn’t have a ton of depth. Fernando would be a good fit here. Few players took as big of a leap from Year One to Year Two as Fernando. He has ball skills to be able to run dribble hand-offs and short rolls offensively, can make the right reads as a passer, and has the potential to add a mid-range jumper. Defensively, he’s a big body with length inside, but needs to add more instinctual awareness as a weak-side help defender. Hopefully, there’s still time for him to learn those skills. He’s considered a likely first round pick right now by executives, but my bet is that come closer to draft time he starts to fall as few teams in this area of the draft should be drafting big over wing help.
(It's worth noting, Spurs director of scouting, Dave Telep, was at quite a few Maryland games this past season.)
Sporting news also has Bruno going to the Spurs:
29. Spurs (via Raptors) - Bruno Fernando, Big, Maryland
Age: 20.8 | Height: 6-10 | Weight: 245
Fernando is capable of doing a lot of what San Antonio wants to do with its bigs in terms of dribble handoff actions and midrange playmaking. His free-throw percentage even suggests there might be some shooting in him down the line.
Defensively, Fernando needs to make some improvements, as his rotations aren't always on point. No better place to do that than in San Antonio.
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Bruno will have a chance to show his stuff over the next couple of days and possibly move up draft boards if teams see what they like.
Jeff Goodman did a post-lottery mock for Stadium and he has Bruno going at the end of the 1st round:
30. Milwaukee Bucks – Bruno Fernando, 6-10, 240, F, Soph., Maryland
Fernando is a big, strong frontcourt guy whose offensive game has developed over the past year. He plays with intensity and can really rebound and run the court. He’ll ultimately be a rim-runner type of big man.
Sam Vecenie with The Athletic has Bruno going a spot higher:
29. San Antonio Spurs (from TOR) — Bruno Fernando
6-10 center, sophomore, Maryland
The Spurs are one of the few teams in the NBA that utilizes the center position to a significant extent. But behind LaMarcus Aldridge and Jakob Poeltl, the team doesn’t have a ton of depth. Fernando would be a good fit here. Few players took as big of a leap from Year One to Year Two as Fernando. He has ball skills to be able to run dribble hand-offs and short rolls offensively, can make the right reads as a passer, and has the potential to add a mid-range jumper. Defensively, he’s a big body with length inside, but needs to add more instinctual awareness as a weak-side help defender. Hopefully, there’s still time for him to learn those skills. He’s considered a likely first round pick right now by executives, but my bet is that come closer to draft time he starts to fall as few teams in this area of the draft should be drafting big over wing help.
(It's worth noting, Spurs director of scouting, Dave Telep, was at quite a few Maryland games this past season.)
Sporting news also has Bruno going to the Spurs:
29. Spurs (via Raptors) - Bruno Fernando, Big, Maryland
Age: 20.8 | Height: 6-10 | Weight: 245
Fernando is capable of doing a lot of what San Antonio wants to do with its bigs in terms of dribble handoff actions and midrange playmaking. His free-throw percentage even suggests there might be some shooting in him down the line.
Defensively, Fernando needs to make some improvements, as his rotations aren't always on point. No better place to do that than in San Antonio.
-----
Bruno will have a chance to show his stuff over the next couple of days and possibly move up draft boards if teams see what they like.
