from nba.com:
Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet will be one of the most coveted players on the free agent market when negotiations begin on Nov. 20.
And he knows it.
When speaking recently on JJ Redick’s podcast “The Old Man and the Three,” VanVleet asserted that he’s ready to cash in.
“I’m trying to get paid, man,” he said. “I’m not shy about that. I don’t have to tell people that I value winning. Like, just look at my story, do your research, I’ve never been on a losing team in my entire life. … I won a championship and now it’s time to cash out. I’m 26. … I’m only four years in (to his NBA career) but I feel like I’m on the verge of blossoming even more, with more of a lead role.”
VanVleet played a crucial role in the Raptors’ path to the 2019 championship and improved his game even more this season, putting up numbers similar to Chris Paul.
He’s able to impact both ends of the floor — which NBA.com’s John Schuhmann broke down recently — and should have multiple suitors as an unrestricted free agent.
The 26-year-old said he is “preparing for realistic possibilities” and will be making a chart to evaluate the pros and cons for each situation.
Toronto is expected to be on that chart, but the amount of money offered will certainly be a factor.
“It’s not purely numbers, but the numbers do play a big part, and I just want to feel my value reciprocated from the other end,” VanVleet said. “And teams can tell you your value all they want to, but until they show you in numbers, then you know what that means.”
