The Houston Rockets appear to be impressed by Bruno Fernando in training camp, and HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto reports his contract is being converted from an Exhibit 10 to a two-way deal.
Two-way contracts allow teams to carry two extra players beyond the 15 maximum standard contracts. These players bounce between the NBA and G League, but they remain under team control and can’t be signed by other teams. Two-way players are eligible to be active for up to 50 of their NBA team’s 82 regular-season games.
Now 24 years old, Fernando is a 6-foot-10 big man who offers a more athletic alternative to 7-foot-4 veteran Boban Marjanović. Both are potential backup options for head coach Stephen Silas to utilize behind new starter Alperen Sengun. Earlier this week, The Athletic’s Kelly Iko reported Fernando was one of two defensive standouts in training camp alongside rising star Jalen Green.
Sources: The Houston Rockets are converting Bruno Fernando to a two-way contract, @hoopshype has learned.
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) September 30, 2022
Fernando, selected at No. 34 overall in the 2019 NBA draft, averaged 6.9 points (70.7% FG) and 4.0 rebounds in 9.4 minutes per game with the Rockets last season. He was acquired by Houston as part of the February trade that sent Daniel Theis to Boston and re-signed in the offseason to an Exhibit 10 contract, which effectively served as a 2022-23 training camp invitation. Based on today’s conversion news, Fernando appears to be making the most of that opportunity.
As the situation stands, Fernando and rookie guard Trevor Hudgins are Houston’s two-way players for the 2022-23 season. The Rockets had Trevelin Queen and Anthony Lamb in those spots to finish 2021-22, but Queen signed with Philadelphia as a free agent and Lamb doesn’t appear to be in the team’s plans — at least not at the NBA level — after a disappointing showing at summer league. Lamb could still be a G League option for Houston’s Rio Grande Valley (RGV) Vipers affiliate, which is where he played most of last season.
One team source singled out Jalen Green and Bruno Fernando as Day 1 defensive standouts.
More from #Rockets camp on @TheAthleticNBA: https://t.co/RRpADxUa5I
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) September 28, 2022
