(Photo by Andrew Lahodynskyj/Getty Images)
The Toronto Raptors could look quite different from last season.
Even though Masai Ujiri has played hardball and has refused to trade away Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby, Fred VanVleet is ready to test free agency and likely to fetch a big deal way away from the North’s blistering cold.
According to Michael Grange of Sportsnet, via NBACentral, the Houston Rockets are prepared to make him a Godfather-like offer.
They have over $60 million in available cap space, and they could offer him as much as $40 million per year on a two-year deal, reportedly looking to add some veterans and stability to a team lacking both things.
The Rockets are planning to ‘tempt’ Fred VanVleet with a contract starting at $40M per year, per @michaelgrange
“One league source told me the Rockets, armed with $60 million in cap room and no state tax in Texas, are going to tempt VanVleet with a two-year deal for $80 million… pic.twitter.com/pvRP66fm5U
— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) June 28, 2023
Notably, the Rockets hired Ime Udoka, partially to develop winning habits and start a culture turnaround from the Stephen Silas era, as most of their young players struggled with development and showed little-to-no improvement between seasons.
The Rockets played an iso-heavy offense with no fundamentals, and they took zero pride in their defense either, looking more like a team full of G League players trying to make a name for their own and get a call-up rather than an actual NBA team.
Needless to say, adding a veteran point guard would be a big step in the right direction for this organization, and they need someone who could help these young players learn the ropes of the NBA lifestyle.
VanVleet has posted borderline All-Star numbers for years now, and he’s also a solid defender and vocal leader, so he might be just what they need right now, even if they have to overpay.
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