The Raptors and Fred VanVleet appear on track to reach an agreement on a four-year contract extension that could approach $120MM in total value, according to Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report.
VanVleet, who will be extension-eligible this offseason, will earn $21.25MM in 2022/23 and has a $22.82MM player option for 2023/24. If he were to decline that option, he could sign a four-year extension worth up to $114.24MM, so Fischer’s $120MM projection looks a little high.
Still, it sounds as if the Raptors will be prepared to offer VanVleet the maximum amount he can receive on an extension. The All-Star point guard would become eligible for a more lucrative contract if he plays out the ’22/23 season, then turns down his player option to become a free agent next summer. But an extension worth $28.5MM per year that locks him up until age 33 may be hard to pass up.
Here’s more on the Raptors:
- According to Fischer, Thaddeus Young appears likely to remain in Toronto, potentially on a two-year contract agreement worth at least $10MM. Young was acquired by the Raptors from San Antonio in a trade deadline deal in February.
- Young is one of the Raptors’ two key free agents this offseason, along with big man Chris Boucher. Zach Kram of The Ringer makes a case for why he considers Boucher the most interesting free agent on the market due to his unusual combination of skills and physical traits.
- The Raptors and Bulls are among the teams that appear to have interest in Magic big man Mohamed Bamba, Fischer reports. However, Bamba will be a restricted free agent and may not leave Orlando — he and the Magic are motivated to work out a new deal, sources tell Fischer.
- In considering potential landing spots for Suns restricted free agent center Deandre Ayton, Fischer notes that the Raptors continue to monitor the availability of a handful of top big men, including Jazz star Rudy Gobert. While Ayton may also be on the team’s radar, Toronto won’t have cap room and could only acquire him via sign-and-trade.
I really hope Boucher is back, he brings so much more than Thad Young
Toronto would start Fred in 2023/24 at $25 Million ($3.8 Million increase from 2022/23 salary -$21.3 Million).
Extending Thad Young at 5 Million per annum for 2 years is a great move!
Projecting the Trading of OG + Boucher + Birch + one FRP for Rudy Gobert is than viable. That would push Raptors close to the Luxury Tax for 2022/23!
The alternative of OG for Capella maybe the better trade fiscally! Raptors would than have $9.3 Million of the MLE to spend on GP2 or Monk and still can trade Flynn +Svi + Birch for a $10.6 Million player.
Would you trade Reddish for Boucher, Knicks now have the cap space.
We don’t need or want Gobert, he’s to expensive, it would create a cap nightmare for this team going forward.
Thad is more valuable than Boucher because of the skill set of Boucher are weaker versions of Pascal Siakim, OG Ananoby, Scottie Barnes, and Precious Achuia I would love Clint Capella to be available for the Raps to aquire him but how could the Raps walk away from the exact player they need no matter the cost. Gobert has been the defensive player of the year 3 of the last 5 years and has averaged just under 12 rebounds per game, 2+ blocks per game and draws plenty of fouls from those who have to guard him and he averages about 2.5 fouls while playing ALL-NBA D. Please get him in a Raptors Uni! Next best imo is Myles Turner
Thad is more valuable than Boucher because of the skill set of Boucher are weaker versions of Pascal Siakim, OG Ananoby, Scottie Barnes, and Precious Achuia
As far as filling a need for the Raps goes:
Mo Bamba > Chris Boucher
In 4 years the team will be led by Scottie Barnes, Precious, and Delano Banton from the current roster and Freddie VV will most likely still be the starting point Trent Jr will be outgoing in any trade for Gobert. They usually have a great player in the making stashed and Ujiri with his management have been great at finding cheap players to fill gaps.
We’d have to give up OG and Trent to match salaries, that makes us worst. We also need offense as this team would be full of D first guys.
People don’t realize how much Gobert helps your offense. He takes us so much space on screens that guys like Fred will get all the space he wants for open jumpshots or drives to the basket.
The Jazz went away from that in the second half of the year and look what happened. Gobert usually leads the league in screen assists. He’s not just a lob threat.
Meh.