After being one of the most sought-after names in the market, unrestricted free agent Fred VanVleet decided to return to the Toronto Raptors for the coming season. He reportedly agreed to a four-year, $85 million deal to stay and re-sign with the team, as per The Athletic‘s Shams Charania.
Fred VanVleet has agreed to a four-year, $85M deal to re-sign with the Toronto Raptors, agent Brian Jungreis of @ParLay_SE told @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 21, 2020
Charania also added that VanVleet's newly-inked contract will include a player option in the fourth season. His agency in Parlay Sports and Entertainment reportedly played a big role in securing his fresh deal as well as engaging in contract talks for other players in the league.
VanVleet's contract includes a player option in the fourth season, sources said. His agency, @ParLay_SE, has done $145M in contracts over last two days. https://t.co/8f7R6ota5M
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 21, 2020
The undrafted guard out of Wichita State drastically improved ever since earning his way on the Raptors roster back in 2016. He emerged as an integral piece for the team's successful championship run in 2019 where he recorded averages of 11.0 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 4.8 assists in an off the bench role through 64 made appearances.
After 2019 NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard's departure to the Los Angeles Clippers, VanVleet was eventually eased into a bigger role where he was instated as a regular starter for the team in the 2019-2020 season. He took on a heavier scoring load and bumped his norms to 17.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 6.6 assists in 54 games played.
He entered free agency with a free choice to secure a huge paycheck and be the main man of a rebuilding squad or return to the Raptors in hopes of making it back to the NBA Finals.
His decision to come back to the team will be a huge boost for the Nick Nurse-led squad who previously bounced out of the 2020 NBA Playoffs with an Eastern Conference Semi-Finals loss to the Boston Celtics in seven games.
VanVleet will aim to continue his upswing as one of the rising stars in the league while also leading the Raptors to emerge as one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference for the coming seasons.
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