Free agent point guard Fred VanVleet, one of the top available players on the market, will “probably” re-sign with Toronto Raptors, league sources tell The New York Post’s Marc Berman.
Over the course of the past weeks, the New York Knicks and Detroit Pistons have been linked to the guard but with free agent fast approaching, time may be running out.
Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix described Detroit’s interest in VanVleet as mild, which makes sense after the Pistons took point guard Killian Hayes with the seventh overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.
Additionally, Berman writes that the Knicks — a team with a reputation of being unwieldy — are interested but concerned about being used as a leverage play in a bid for VanVleet to draw a more lucrative contract.
VanVleet, 26-years-old, is reportedly looking for a contract that will pay him approximately $20 million annually, Mannix says.
In a guard-driven league, VanVleet’s skillset is indeed valuable and — as one of the more productive young players — he should be in line for a substantial pay raise. Now just a four-year pro, VanVleet just completed the best season of his career, averaging 17.6 points, 6.6 assists and 1.9 steals per game while shooting .390 from 3-point range and starting in all 54 games that he suited up for.
Nonetheless, while there are a few teams that can offer VanVleet the type of contract he desires — like New York — the Raptors have his Bird rights and can sign him to a more lucrative contract than any team, if they would like.
