Why the Washington Wizards should select Bruno Fernando

In the 2019 NBA Draft, the Washington Wizards should be looking to upgrade their frontcourt with developmental pieces that will pay huge dividends in the future.

The Washington Wizards have a depleted frontcourt that is need of retooling with players that have the potential to become major contributors down the road.  That franchise is challenged in making the right roster decisions to impending free agency. Majority of the team’s frontcourt are free agents this summer. Dwight Howard (UFA), Jabari Parker (Team Option), Bobby Portis (RFA), Thomas Bryant (RFA), and Jeff Green (UFA) will all test the market. Who should the team bring back? Who wants to return? These are all questions that need to be answered fairly quickly. Fortunately, with the draft approaching in two weeks decisions can be made with relative ease with the hopeful acquisition of one player’s talents.

A prospect the Wizards’ front office and Head Coach Scott Brooks should be looking heavily into is PF/C Bruno Fernando from the University of Maryland.  Fernando possesses a big body and is very athletic. He’s active around the rim and has a pretty decent inside/outside game. For the Terrapins, Bruno averaged roughly 14 PPG and 11 RBS on 61% FG. He can be a nice developmental project that learns the game this season at a moderate pace and eventually start in Year 2.

The team has to take into consideration adding a versatile big to match the skill sets of their backcourt in Bradley Beal and John Wall.  Bringing Fernando into the mix diversifies the offense a little bit more with a player that spaces floor yet adds an undeniable presence on the block. The Wizards haven’t had that in quite a long time especially with Dwight Howard missing nearly all of last season. Fernando would be a quality asset that will add talent to a roster in need of his abilities.

He might be a reach at number nine, but the Wizards draft history is littered with other misfires. They could do much worse. If they happen to buy into the second round and he’s there, they have to take him.

I expect Bruno to be a high, quality pick if he’s selected.