Fred VanVleet Switches Agents Ahead Of Possible Free Agency

Raptors guard Fred VanVleet is widely expected to turn down his $22.8MM player option for 2023/24 in order to become a free agent this summer. After parting ways with his longtime agent last month, VanVleet will now be represented by Klutch Sports Group, the agency formally confirmed (Twitter link).

Reports first surfaced in late January indicating that VanVleet would likely land with Klutch Sports.

A first-time All-Star last season, VanVleet has seen his three-point percentage decline to 34.4% in ’22/23 (he’s at 37.5% for his career). However, the rest of his averages are in line with what he’s posted the past few years, as he’s recording 19.7 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 6.6 APG and 1.6 SPG through 50 games (36.9 MPG).

VanVleet, who turns 29 next week, was involved in plenty trade rumors leading up to the deadline, but the Raptors decided to hold onto him. He has been particularly impressive over the past 15 games (37.8 MPG), averaging 24.3 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 7.5 APG, 1.7 SPG and 0.9 BPG on .433/.383/.914 shooting. Toronto controls his Bird rights, giving the team the ability to offer him more years and more money than a rival club, assuming he enters free agency.

A five-year, maximum-salary contract for VanVleet is projected to be worth $233.16MM. It’s highly unlikely that he’ll receive that much money, but Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported last month that VanVleet might be seeking a deal in the range of $30-35MM per year, and that seems attainable.

The Raptors will have several difficult decisions entering the offseason. Fellow guard Gary Trent Jr. is also expected to decline his player option and become an unrestricted free agent, while center Jakob Poeltl will be unrestricted too. The roster could get quite expensive going forward if all three players are retained and no other moves are made.