Fred VanVleet is a Houston Rocket — instant reaction
He bet on himself, and earnt $43.3million annually over three years. Not bad.
Fred VanVleet moves to Houston with a big payday.
The Raptors tried to keep him, but ultimately another year on the proposed two-year contract from the Rockets sealed it. $130million over three years is the accepted contract, and VanVleet has been paid.
Even after a down-year for the undrafted point guard out of Wichita State, Houston used their $60million in cap space — that they need to spend with the new Collective Bargaining Agreement — to lure VanVleet with a large sum of money.
Get Bengolo’s stories in your inbox
Join Medium for free to get updates from this writer.
Toronto reportedly thought they could convince VanVleet to stay with a longer term on the deal, but it looks like the former All-Star used that as leverage to find another year out of Houston.
Some fans are happy with the news and some unhappy, but the major question now is how the Raptors replenish their already sparse point guard depth. Is Scottie Barnes the answer? Is a replacement on the way? Will Toronto look at trading a big name to end and era and get some major assets in return?
Declining a $114million deal last year seemed to work out for VanVleet, who even with lacklustre performances over the season has, with his agents, worked out a gem of a contract.
Toronto will have access to the $12.4million non-taxpayer mid-level exception, but some targets such as Gabe Vincent — who has moved to Los Angeles — is off the board.
The Raptors hardly add positive talent in free agency — even with the MLE — but it’s imperative they do this season.
More articles will be written on this huge story, but for now, the Raptors will look much different next season. Perhaps for the best.
