Toronto Raptors: Five candidates to steal Fred VanVleet this free agency

After a breakout sophomore campaign, Fred VanVleet enters free-agency as a potential target of many teams. Who are his top five suitors this offseason?

During the summer of 2016, Fred VanVleet was an undrafted rookie who, after a productive career at Wichita State, was fighting just to make an NBA roster. Now two years later, after betting on himself, VanVleet will hit restricted free-agency expecting a major pay-raise.

It is a raise VanVleet has certainly earned. Last season, the second year player averaged 15.5 points and 5.8 assists per 36 minutes and was the unassailable leader of the infamous “bench mob”.

The breakout season was enough to earn Fred VanVleet Sixth Man of the Year consideration, with him being named as a finalist after the season’s end.

Fortunately for the Toronto Raptors, and unfortunately for FVV, VanVleet will enter free-agency in perhaps the stingiest market in recent history. According to realgm, there are only six teams with projected cap-space this offseason, although with some maneuvering a few more may clear some room.

Unfortunately for the Raptors, they currently sit in a cap-crunch. With a current payroll of $127 million, Toronto is approximately $4 million above the Luxry-Tax threshold, without accounting for VanVleet’s deal.

Due to a CBA quirk (the gilbert-arenas provision), Toronto’s contract options for Fred VanVleet are limited. 

While it’s not unreasonable to expect the Raptors to pay the Luxury-Tax this season, without a real chance at an NBA title, the team will certainly be trying to limit their tax-bill if possible. At just 24 years-old and highly productive, VanVleet will certainly garner attention around the league.

So who are the top threats to steal the Raptors’ back-up point guard this offseason? We take a look, starting with the fifth most likely.