Fred VanVleet Declines Player Option and Becomes a Major Free Agent in the Summer Market – Which Teams are Hot to Sign Him?

While the NBA season could officially end in a few hours in Denver, a big news has just fallen concerning the summer market: Fred VanVleet, the point guard of the Raptors named All-Star in 2022, has decided to become a free agent .

The news was announced as often by Adrian Wojnarowski ofESPN, on the sidelines of Game 5 of the NBA Finals between the Nuggets and the Heat tonight. With a player option worth $22.8 million for the 2023-24 season, Fred VanVleet chose to decline it to try to obtain a long-term contract, in Toronto or elsewhere.

ESPN story on the Raptors’ Fred VanVleet declining his player option and becoming a major free agent in July:

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 12, 2023

As Woj indicates, this decision is not necessarily synonymous with departure for the one who has been playing for the Raptors since the start of his NBA career in 2016, and with whom he won the title three years later. On the other hand, it is a choice that clearly opens the door to a new chapter in FVV’s career. A probable scenario according to another insider, Marc Steinwho just recently indicated that Fredo and Toronto outside Gary Trent Jr. were more or less in the process of leaving for the Dinos.

We’ll see if it’s confirmed but it is clear that VanVleet will be coveted in the market, who was already in the transfer rumors during the last trade deadline. We are talking about a point guard who was named All-Star for the first time in 2022, who has been around 20 points and 7 assists per game for three seasons and who is also defending hard. Even though his efficiency numbers have dropped this year compared to his star-studded campaign, FVV has established himself as a mainstay of the Raptors since the departure of Kyle Lowry in 2021. His qualities on both sides of the field as well as his leadership should seduce a certain number of franchises, both those who have the salary margin to offer him a good contract and those who want to obtain it via a sign & trade. Lakers, Suns, Rockets, Magic… these are all teams that have already been linked to VanVleet.

Fred VanVleet free agent, see you July 1st on the market!!

Who’s hot to sign it?

— TrashTalk (@TrashTalk_fr) June 12, 2023

The arrival of a new coach at the Raptors during the offseason, following the dismissal of Nick Nurse who was replaced by the inexperienced Darko Rajakovic, could also be a harbinger of a potential departure from FVV. Toronto has not indicated that it wants to rebuild everything, but it still smells of change in Canada. Now represented by Klutch Sports, VanVleet could really symbolize that change.

Come on, see you this summer for the outcome of this case.

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Source texte : ESPN