Fansided · Jun 15, 2023
Fred VanVleet’s contract demands could hurt trade chances
Early Monday afternoon, Fred VanVleet announced he would be declining his $22.8 million player option for next season. Heading into the open market, the former All-Star point guard is looking for a pay raise while hoping to test the waters of free agency. The Toronto Raptors now have a serious dilemma on their hands.
Due to the rules of Bird rights, the Raptors could still extend Fred VanVleet for a four-year $114 million deal. This contract would lock up a huge portion of the Raptors’ payroll and would likely paralyze their chances of signing any other significant players.