Toronto Raptors: Why the team must re-sign Fred VanVleet in free agency
Why the Toronto Raptors should re-sign Fred VanVleet
VanVleet was essential to the 2019 Championship and was a crucial starter this season. VanVleet broke out during the 2019 NBA playoffs and was a key piece in getting the Raptors their first championship — VanVleet didn’t even start a single game in the 2019 playoffs.
In the Finals he averaged 14.0 points per game with shooting 40.0 percent from three, he also guarded Steph Curry in the now infamous box-and-one zone. VanVleet also was a finisher, scoring 22 in a close-out Game 6 — All of this being evidence that he’s a guy you can trust come playoff time.
The 2019-2020 season saw Danny Green sign with the Lakers and propelled Fred VanVleet into the starting line-up next to Kyle Lowry. VanVleet was the secondary ball-handler for the season and still averaged 6.6 assists per game, while increasing his points per game from 11 points per game from his previous season to 17.6 per game this regular season.
Van Vleet became even more efficient, despite his promotion into a starting position and his role increasing.
In the 2018-19 season, VanVleet had a usage rate of 17.9 percent and increased in the 2019-20 season to 21.7 percent, with his true shooting percentage increasing from 53.9 in 2018-19 to 55.3 in 2019-20 — while taking 4.9 more field goals per game than his previous season.
Lowry is 34 years old and his production and leadership will have to be filled, but they have his replacement on their team already. VanVleet will be offered plenty of money in free agency as a two-way playmaking guard who is capable of shooting at a high clip should be highly sought after.
With Pascal Siakam already on a max contract until 2025 (and we’ll see if the world still exists by then) the Raptors can’t afford to low ball VanVleet, but they should have the intention to keep him.
With the way Kyle Lowry plays, he takes charges like a tackling dummy. The Toronto Raptors should seriously consider resting him or reducing his role as the season goes on. This past regular season VanVleet got that chance to be the lead guard, with Lowry missing a handful of games due to a thumb injury.
In the 12 games when Lowry didn’t play and VanVleet did, VanVleet averaged 21.8 points per game, 7.4 assists per game, 2.2 steals per game while shooting 40.7 percent from three.
VanVleet is a gamer, the definition of what the Raptors are as an organization – a hard-working player and one of the home-grown developed guys who have proven themselves despite the odds.
Speaking of, you need guys who are proven playoff winners to entice free agents to come to your team. So, would paying Fred VanVleet also possibly be an investment for the Raptors to get an All-Star in the 2021 offseason?