Ranking the top 50 NBA players of next season: 50-41
By Corey Rausch
45. Fred VanVleet
One of the belles of the free agency ball, Fred VanVleet signed a rich contract to come back to the Toronto Raptors and it is easy to see why. He is a proven championship competitor. He is just 26, ostensibly entering his prime for a team who looks to be pivoting directions while still competing.
VanVleet boasts a top 15 defensive rating for anyone who played over 25 minutes per game this season. This puts him in line with three other Toronto Raptors but this is not solely about team defense. VanVleet is a hustler who would immediately change the culture if he went somewhere else.
Furthermore, he is even better in the playoffs. Stepping up this season to average 19.6 points, 6.9 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 1.6 steals on shooting splits of .400/.391/.840 VanVleet showed more than any Raptor not named Kyle Lowry that he wants whatever smoke comes his way.
VanVleet was understandably one of the more interesting prospects on the market this offseason. The Toronto Raptors look to bridge the gap to the dynamic offseason of 2021 and VanVleet is perfect for that. He is a true winner and wants to keep the winning tradition in Toronto (or Tampa for the time being).