Coming into the NBA offseason, the Toronto Raptors had one main goal they wanted to accomplish. That goal was to find a way to re-sign rising star point guard Fred VanVleet. On the second day of free agency, they were able to accomplish that goal.
According to a report from Shams Charania of The Athletic, the Raptors have agreed to a four-year contract with VanVleet worth $85 million.
Right off the bat in free agency, it was reported that VanVleet would meet with a few teams before making his decision. Most believed that the Raptors and New York Knicks were the main two teams interested in signing VanVleet.
Obviously, no other team could offer VanVleet what the Raptors have offered him. He has developed from a solid role player to a legitimate star-caliber player with Toronto. Leaving town was never something that VanVleet wanted to do.
Last season with the Raptors, VanVleet put together the best season of his career. He averaged 17.6 points per game to go along with 6.6 assists and 3.8 rebounds. VanVleet shot 41.3 percent from the floor and knocked down 39 percent of his three-point attempts.
Keeping VanVleet in town means that the Raptors keep their starting back-court with him and Kyle Lowry. Now, they will try to find a way to re-sign free agent big man Serge Ibaka.
Nick Nurse and company believe that the Raptors will be in contention once again next season. Losing VanVleet would have seriously hurt those chances. They do need to make another move or two, but this is a big step in the right direction.
Fred VanVleet was one of the top players available on the market this offseason, but he is now taken and will return to the Raptors for another four years.
