Free-agent forward Juancho Hernangomez is finalizing a one-year agreement with the Raptors, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (via Twitter).
Hernangomez has been on the open market since being waived by the Jazz on June 30. Utah released him before his $7.3M salary for the 2022-23 season became guaranteed. While terms of the veteran’s new deal with Toronto aren’t yet known, it’s a safe bet it’ll be worth less than that — I’d expect a minimum-salary contract.
Hernangomez, 26, has flashed the ability to contribute as a stretch four over the course of his six NBA seasons but didn’t stay in one place for long during the 2021-22 league year. He was traded from Minnesota to Memphis last August, then to Boston in September, to San Antonio in January, and to Utah in February.
In total, Hernangomez averaged 3.3 PPG and 2.5 RPG in 40 games (11.1 MPG) for three teams last season, posting a shooting line of .415/.348/.559. He’s perhaps most recognizable to many NBA fans for starring as Bo Cruz in the Netflix film "Hustle."
The Raptors currently have 18 players under contract, with second-rounder Christian Koloko and Hernangomez likely to fill out the team’s 20-man offseason roster.
It’s possible that Hernangomez — like D.J. Wilson, Dalano Banton, Armoni Brooks and Justin Champagnie — will get a partially guaranteed contract and will have to earn for a spot on the 15-man regular-season roster, but that’s not yet confirmed one way or the other.
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