Should the Atlanta Hawks guarantee Bruno Fernando’s contract for next season?

The Atlanta Hawks have a very different offseason coming up. They still have a lot of decisions to make, but they also have the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA draft for the first time since 1975. If they go the route most expect them to go, they’ll draft Alexandre Sarr. But there’s a chance they’ll pick another player given there’s no star in the class.

The problem for the Hawks is that this is a weak draft and they have a greater chance of missing out on the No. 1 pick than most other years. Given that they are in a tough salary cap situation, it is likely that they will go for Sarr. They will then be able to trade Clint Capela and give themselves more room to maneuver.

So, the question remaining from this piece of the puzzle is what do the Hawks do with Bruno Fernando. The big man showed tremendous growth last season on the offensive end and, as a result, could provide an interesting level of value to the franchise.

One thing Fernando brought to the Hawks this season almost every time he took the court was energy. This is a crucial piece for a team midway through a struggling season, a situation the Hawks have found themselves in over the past two seasons.

Then there is the question of the contractual quality-price ratio. The Hawks are close to the tax threshold, meaning they will face possible restrictions in the future. However, Fernando’s contract is only $2.7 million next season. This is an insurance deal if their first and second choice center goes down at the same time again, as they did this season.

Fernando is also an old-school center, and that works with the franchise. He doesn’t have much range and he can’t really create his own shot. However, because Trae Young and Dejounte Murray are ball-dominant type players, all the big man has to do is move around without the ball and he can become very dangerous on the offensive end of the court.

While Fernando doesn’t move the needle much, any player who isn’t on a rookie contract making less than $3.0 million per season shouldn’t. What Fernando guarantees is that he gives the Hawks options either on the field or by adding a small contract to a trade to get a deal done. It would take a few minutes for the Hawks front office to make the decision to secure this deal.