16 Players that will likely change teams by the NBA trade deadline
By Cal Durrett
6. Fred Van Vleet, Toronto Raptors
All-Star guard Fred Van Vleet could soon have a new team, one way or another. With Van Vleet set to hit unrestricted free agency this summer, he is looking for a payday. In fact, Van Vleet is reportedly looking for a contract in the $130 million range.
Fred Van Vleet wants a deal comparable to the four-year, $130 million one Tyler Herro signed with the Miami Heat, per @RicBucher pic.twitter.com/DXUCQhImwX
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) January 28, 2023
The Raptors don’t appear willing to make such an offer to Van Vleet, so, as a result, they could look to trade him prior to the trade deadline for assets to avoid losing him for nothing.
There are several teams that could be interested in making a deal, including the Phoenix Suns, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Miami Heat. The Heat and Timberwolves are in the market for an upgrade at point guard and could be especially motivated to make a deal.
Meanwhile, the Suns may be trying to secure Chris Paul’s eventual replacement before he retires and have several expiring contracts in Dario Saric, Jae Crowder, and Landry Shamet that could be used to match his $21.2 million salary in a trade, as well as all of their first-round picks. With several teams in pursuit of Van Vleet, the odds seem fairly high that he’ll get traded.