Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet is slated to be one of the headliners of the 2020 NBA free-agent market, and some of his pursuers have emerged.
According to The Athletic's Shams Charania, the Detroit Pistons, New York Knicks, and Phoenix Suns are “expected to emerge as suitors” for VanVleet in free agency.
Fred VanVleet has been superb in his first season as a full-time starter for the Toronto Raptors, averaging 17.6 points, 6.6 assists, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.9 steals per game while shooting 39.0 percent from beyond the arc. In the Raptors' first-round series sweep of the Brooklyn Nets, the Wichita State product averaged 21.3 points, 7.8 assists, four rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 55.9 percent from beyond the arc.
VanVleet is a vital instrumental to head coach Nick Nurse's rotation and would be their clear point guard of the future if he re-signs in Toronto. On the other hand, what if other teams value VanVleet more than the Raptors, piquing his interest?
Here's how the teams reportedly set to pursue VanVleet stack up in terms of fit.
3) Phoenix Suns
A Fred VanVleet-Devin Booker backcourt would be a perimeter nightmare for defenses, as both players are adept at spotting up and shooting off the dribble at a high level. Meanwhile, Kelly Oubre Jr., Mikal Bridges, Dario Saric, and Cameron Johnson are already at least competent outside shooters.
This team could flourish in both the halfcourt and fastbreak and would be getting some much-needed defensive aid out on the perimeter with VanVleet's arrival; the Suns were 20th in the NBA this season in opponent points per game (113.4), 21st in opponent three-point shooting percentage (36.3 percent), and 22nd in opponent field goal percentage (47.2 percent). At the same time, they have a sustainable offense with point guard Ricky Rubio.
Rubio is a savvy player. He's quick, a competitive defender, a slick passer from the perimeter and in the fastbreak, and shot a career-best 36.1 percent from beyond the arc this season. Rubio, who's one year through a three-year, $51 million deal, did an impressive job finding Booker and the team's array of young scorers in their hotspots this season.
Is VanVleet a more well-rounded player than Rubio? Yes, but continuity is paramount in the NBA, and the Suns offense picked up steam in the NBA bubble; they can roll with this unit next season and be one of the best offenses in the NBA.
2) Detroit Pistons
Fred VanVleet could be the Pistons' lead guard or possibly a combo guard alongside Derrick Rose, who has one more year remaining on his contract. No matter the role he plays, VanVleet would have a profound impact on the Pistons.
His two-way play enhances all aspects of the game for head coach Dwane Casey. For starters, wings/forwards Luke Kennard and Sekou Doumbouya are young players the Pistons could potentially rely on for scoring moving forward. Having a mature floor general who can draw double-teams and/or get the ball to his teammates with space makes others better and more productive.
The Pistons could select the best player available in their eyes with the seventh pick in the NBA Draft (maybe it's a big man or a two-way forward) to add to their rebuilding arsenal, which then gets deeper by signing VanVleet. The contrary, though, makes a little more sense: draft a point guard and focus on frontline depth in free agency.
Rose is coming off a highly productive season, and having a young ball-handler push or be behind the veteran would allow that player to earn a starting role and be the floor general of the future for Detroit. They need a permanent ball-handler. The younger that player is the better, albeit VanVleet is only 26.
1) New York Knicks
The Knicks have some young point guards, but none of them have turned a corner: VanVleet would be New York's long-term answer at the point.
He'd be a perfect fit in-between their core youngsters, RJ Barrett and Mitchell Robinson. In the scenario the Knicks take a wing/forward with the eighth pick in the NBA Draft (think Devin Vassell or Isaac Okoro), all the pieces would complement each other. Barrett plays in isolation, attacking the rack; Robinson roams around the paint for inside buckets; Vassell/Okoro could stretch the floor; VanVleet would provide shooting, scoring, and facilitating — three things the Knicks need. He'd make everyone in that rotation better.
All four players are respectable — or better — defenders, which bodes well for a Tom Thibodeau-coached team. Incorporate Julius Randle and Kevin Knox into the mix, and the Knicks should be a playoff team in the Eastern Conference next season.
The Knicks could very well draft a point guard like Cole Anthony or Killian Hayes at eight and then focus on adding frontline players in free agency. On the other hand, drafting Vassell or Okoro offers a more productive offseason option, as they can also add a backcourt fixture in VanVleet. It's difficult to find such a frontline player in free agency.
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