Report: Raptors to sign Dewan Hernandez to partially guaranteed 3-year deal

Fresh off a 3-2 run in the NBA Summer League, the Raptors have reportedly decided to sign their latest draft pick, the 6’10”, 235 pound big man Dewan Hernandez, to a partially guaranteed three-year deal. That’s nothing to sneeze at for a player selected 59th in the 2019 NBA Draft.

Here’s Shams Charania with the scoop:

As Shams’ report makes clear, the Raptors are bringing Hernandez onto the full-time roster. That’s not to say he won’t spend time in the G League (playing behind Serge Ibaka and Marc Gasol means there won’t be a ton of minutes for him), but Toronto is already eschewing the two-way contract route with him. For now, Hernandez is a full-time Raptor.

Throughout the squad’s run in Vegas, Hernandez proved to be an up-and-down player, both in terms of his mobility and his comfort level. He’s still got a ways to go before coming a full-time NBA player, but at pick no. 59 Toronto can’t ask for more value than what they’ve seen already from Hernandez. Through five games he showed an ability to drive to the hoop, finish in traffic, and rim-run while averaging 12.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists (while shooting 40 percent from the floor, which will need some work). Paired with Chris Boucher, the two big men were able to anchor the Raptors’ defense for stretches too. Again, Dewan has a long journey ahead of him — as a power forward or centre in the NBA — but the raw material is there.

Check out our full review of Hernandez here from Draft Night.