Raptors point guard Fred VanVleet is a candidate to be traded within the next week, but the team doesn’t feel “heavy pressure” to make a move or risk losing VanVleet in free agency, writes Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca.
As Grange notes, there’s a belief that VanVleet would like to remain in Toronto, not just due to fit and familiarity, but because he’s in a good position to get a raise from the Raptors if and when he declines his player option this summer.
“The worst thing that could happen to Fred is to be traded,” a source told Grange. “Unless you’re a superstar who is getting the max no matter what, the best way to get paid is by staying with your own team.”
While there’s some truth to that observation, it’s worth noting that VanVleet’s Bird rights would go with him to a new team if he’s traded on or before February 9, so that club wouldn’t face any cap-related limits if it wanted to give him a significant raise on this season’s $21.25MM salary.
Here’s more on the Raptors:
- League sources believe Gary Trent Jr.‘s value on the trade market is equivalent to a protected first-round pick or a pair of “good” second-round picks, along with matching salary, according to Grange. Like VanVleet, Trent can become an unrestricted free agent in July by turning down a player option, but Toronto believes it can re-sign him and doesn’t feel significant pressure to trade him now, Grange adds.
- Sam Vecenie of The Athletic views Raptors forward OG Anunoby as a trade chip capable of having a real impact on the title race if he ends up landing with a team like Memphis, arguing that Anunoby’s defensive versatility and ability to match up with big wings makes him worth multiple first-round picks even if his offense doesn’t improve beyond its current level.
- Anunoby holds the No. 1 spot on The Athletic’s latest trade deadline big board, which ranks players based on several factors, including his potential impact and his “asset value.” Two other Raptors are in the top 10, with VanVleet coming in at No. 3 and Trent at No. 9.
- Second-year guard Dalano Banton, who played in 15 of the Raptors’ first 16 games this season, saw some action on Wednesday for the first time since December 18, tweets Josh Lewenberg of TSN.ca. A restricted free agent at season’s end, Banton was with the Raptors 905 in the G League for a while and also missed time due to a hip injury.
- Eric Koreen of The Athletic considers four possible paths Toronto could take at the trade deadline, ranging from standing pat to blowing up the roster.
pascal’s the problem. trade him. raptors will start playing team ball again.
The offense will be built around Victor next year, so Siakams play fits this year for Scotty to develop as a playmaker.
Pascal basically has the same amount of assists as Freddy. Pascal is not the problem. As much as I love Freddy, he has been miscast as the full time point guard but he still has the mindset of being a shooting guard from all his time on the court with lowry
The problem is virtually no one on the team can shoot.
Unfortunately Freddy is the guy that needs to be traded. This team needs to see what Scotty can do as the point man for the rest of this season and make offseason moves accordingly
If Trent is willing to resign for 4 years 90-100 mil he should be staying a Raptor as well
Pascal Scotty Gary and Precious need to be the core of the starting lineup moving forward. The offense feels way to clunky with vanvleet and anunoby right now. I don’t think it’s the players fault either. Both are fantastic players but I don’t see a good way to best utilize them as the team is constructed
The Raptors have two major problems this year.
1) They have no backcourt depth.
2) Somehow every key player is having their worst 3PT shooting season at the same time.
Number two will eventually settle itself out, if not this year, then next.
Number one should be the goal to fix at the deadline. If it means moving OG for picks and that depth, it’s likely the move that gives the Raps a better short and longer term outlook.
If what you are saying is true then why is their best shooting guard playing less minutes and attempting less 3 pointers a game?
I could easily argue that they aren’t worse shooters this year but that the offense isn’t creating quality looks which I believe to be the real issue. That generally is gonna fall at the feet of the point guy
Trading vanvleet and anunoby would maximize returning value going forward to reorganize vision 6’9″
If FVV is traded, then his new team is going to be just as incentivized to give him a new market contract. They are just less likely to overpay (which a long time team might be inclined to do, and not just for sentimental reasons, continuity and familiarity matter some).
A career 11.3 pts, 4,3 reb, 1.5 ast. OG not worth three picks. Please not on Knicks.
Plus the Knicks aren’t fussy on winning. Hopefully OG can go somewhere better
Trading 3 1st picks for an all star no problem but not for OG … That positionless BB vision is just pure fantasy, Barnes has no PG vision and his shooting is average, maybe Masaï thinks is the next Giannis but hé needs more time and a good team around…so if FVV and GTJ get traded it will be for money purpose i think not a Real BB vision
Positionless basketball isn’t a fantasy. Playing multiple guys with similar skillsets is the fantasy regardless of size or “positioning”
… what do Raps lack right now is shooting and moving the ball and play D on the perimeter a lot more. So if you think 7ft guys can improve that ok fine but i do presume that not signing your PG and SG for the next years is also the reason the same team has gone from #5 to #11… Masaï won the KL trade, then he missed Giannis (like Mavs) and now a Orlando rebuilding team move around Barnes for the next 5 years… That is terrible for the fans