What Fred VanVleet’s Unrestricted Free Agency Means for the Toronto Raptors

Fred VanVleet Declines Player Option, Becomes Unrestricted Free Agent

The first major NBA free agent domino has fallen as ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported on Monday that Fred VanVleet declined his player option to become an unrestricted free agent. Though this news was not surprising, it sets into motion a series of decisions the Toronto Raptors must make since they are at somewhat of a crossroads this summer.

VanVleet’s Value and Possible Replacement Options

VanVleet has been a very positive player for the Raptors, despite drawing some criticism from certain segments of their fan base due to his inconsistent shooting, inefficient scoring, and lack of size. While he didn’t shoot the ball well this season, he’s a good decision-maker, a better shooter than he showed in 2022-23, and an underrated defender according to his advanced statistics. Based on a salary model, VanVleet is worth around $32 million in value next season, and he seems to believe he can get close to that figure as well.

The issue for the Raptors is that they have no avenue to replace VanVleet should he leave, and their big cap holds for Gary Trent Jr. and Jakob Poeltl will take them out of being a cap space team. Even the mid-level exception available to add free agents gives them a maximum of slightly over $12 million to spend on VanVleet’s replacement. The guards available in that salary range are slim, and aside from Tre Jones, they are not great passing options.

Fred VanVleet Sign-and-Trade Options

If the Raptors fail to bring back VanVleet, they could theoretically get something back for him in a sign-and-trade. The only way to accomplish this is by trading him to one of the 22 NBA teams that lack cap space. One possible sign-and-trade partner is the Houston Rockets, who are targeting VanVleet and have the necessary cap space to sign him. However, the Raptors would likely not have much leverage to get anything back other than perhaps a trade exception to add a player via trade later.

Should the Raptors Re-sign VanVleet?

Given the difficulties of finding a realistic sign-and-trade for VanVleet and finding a better replacement for him, the Raptors’ best option is likely to bring him back. He showed excellent chemistry with Poeltl toward the end of the season, and re-signing Poeltl should be a priority as well. However, having VanVleet on the team’s books will present even more problems in a few years when the league’s collective bargaining agreement becomes much more restrictive. The Raptors will probably have to trade at least one of their players, but they have a few years to do that. If they don’t keep VanVleet, they will likely take a step back next season. Thus, fans must prepare themselves for that reality.

Conclusion

The Toronto Raptors are at a significant crossroads this offseason with Fred VanVleet becoming an unrestricted free agent. They face numerous challenges in trying to replace him, and their best option may be to bring him back with Jakob Poeltl as a priority. The Raptors must carefully manage their finances to remain competitive while preparing for the future.