As expected, Raptors guard Fred VanVleet intends to decline the $22.8 million player option and will become an unrestricted free agent in July, per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
This is hardly breaking news, as VanVleet has been considered one of the top free agents on the market, despite not being officially available. Now, per Wojnarowski, he officially is.
VanVleet has been linked to several rival teams already, including the Suns, Lakers and Rockets It is believed the Spurs may have interest too, as they are looking to surround French center and eventual No. 1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama with veteran talent.
Meanwhile, both the Bucks and Clippers were said to be interested in trading for VanVleet ahead of the February trade deadline.
VanVleet, 29, is 6-foot-1 and averaged 19.3 points and 7.2 assists in 69 games, shooting 39 percent from the field and 34 percent on 3-pointers. He went unselected in the 2016 NBA Draft and has spent all seven of his pro seasons in Toronto.
The Raptors hired former Grizzlies assistant Darko Rajakovic as head coach over the weekend. (Full post.)
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