Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet (23) and teammate guard Gary Trent Jr. (33) walk off the court for a time out during second half NBA basketball action against the Chicago Bulls in Toronto on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. VanVleet is set to become a free agent this summer. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn
Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet is set to become a free agent this summer.
General manager Bobby Webster confirmed Tuesday that the 29-year-old declined his US$22.8 million player option for next season. ESPN first reported the news Monday.
The option year was slated to be the last of a four-year, $85 million contract he signed in 2020.
VanVleet has spent his entire seven-year career with the Raptors after going undrafted in 2016.
He was a key contributor on the 2018-19 championship team and was named an all-star in 2021-22, finishing the year averaging a career-high 20.3 points per game.
Last season, VanVleet averaged 19.3 points and a career-best 7.2 assists across 69 regular-season games. Toronto finished with a 41-41 record and missed the post-season after a play-in loss to the Chicago Bulls.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 13, 2023.
