Contenders Likely to Discuss Sign-and-Trade Scenarios for Raptors’ Fred VanVleet

June 12, 2023

Raptors guard Fred VanVleet is entering free agency, and even teams that don’t have enough cap space at the moment are likely to explore landing him.

Per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, VanVleet has declined his $22.8 million player option and is set to become an unrestricted free agent. Contending teams that explored VanVleet trades in February — such as the Bucks and Clippers — could revisit talks with the Raptors on a potential sign-and-trade situation, Wojnarowski noted, without naming rival teams.

Most contending teams with an interest could not outright sign VanVleet because of salary cap restrictions. He has reportedly drawn interest from the Suns, Lakers and Rockets, who weren’t a contender last season, but will have about $60 million in cap space with which to work.

Others are believed to be interested as well, including the Spurs, as we relayed here.

VanVleet, 29, averaged 19.3 points and 7.2 assists in 69 games, shooting 39 percent from the field, including 34 percent on 3-pointers. He went unselected in the 2016 NBA Draft, spending all seven of his NBA seasons in Toronto.