The Toronto Raptors Fred VanVleet is set to become a free agent this summer. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the All-Star point guard informed the Raptors on Monday that he will decline his player option for the 2023-24 NBA season.
VanVleet would earn $22.8 million in base salary next season had he picked up the option. The 29-year-old player averaged 19.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 7.2 assists, and 1.8 steals during the 2022-23 campaign.
Wojnarowski reports that VanVleet’s move doesn’t mean he’ll leave Toronto. Both sides are interested in getting a new deal done and intend to engage in negotiations.
However, the Raptors will face a lot of competition with several NBA teams believed to be interested in the player. With Toronto likely heading towards a rebuild, VanVleet might end up looking elsewhere and sign with a contending team or one that can offer him more money than the Raptors can.
Fred VanVleet signed with the Toronto Raptors in 2016 as an undrafted free agent. After receiving limited playing time in his first two seasons as a pro, he established himself as a valuable piece of the Raptors team that won the NBA title in 2019.
Since then, VanVleet has been crucial in keeping the Raptors as a contender in the East. He also broke various franchise records, including the most points in a single game (54) and the most assists in a single game (20).
