Raptors welcome back Fred VanVleet in prize free-agent signing

The Raptors welcome back Fred VanVleet, who earned himself a big raise with stellar play last season. The team’s depth chart is all but final.

The Toronto Raptors announced the re-signing of Fred VanVleet Sunday. While the deal with the Restricted Free Agent [RFA] isn’t official, all the details are out.

VanVleet, who has made a meteoric rise from G League benchwarmer to important NBA contributor, will receive $ 18 Million over a 2-year deal.

TORONTO, CANADA – JANUARY 30: Kyle Lowry #7 and Fred VanVleet #23 of the Toronto Raptors high five during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves January 30, 2018 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Mark Blinch/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Free agency opens and closes

This signing is the first move the Raptors have made in free agency, and I’d be surprised if there were a second. The team was already capped out and could retain VanVleet only because they possessed his early-Bird rights.

We can draw a few conclusions from the signing.

Fred is as good as his word. He had made clear his desire to return to the Raptors, and the swiftness of the transaction indicates he spent precious little time talking to other teams.

“I love it here. This is the place that gave me a chance, gave me an opportunity, whether it’s the organization, coaching staff. I’m a loyal guy, always have been.” Fred VanVleet

Whatever bond Fred had built with Dwane Casey wasn’t strong enough to induce him to change his mind. Expressed more positively, Fred clearly is happy with the selection of Nick Nurse as the new Toronto head coach. The reverse is true: Nurse may not have had a veto over the re-signing, but he certainly would have been questioned by senior management as to his wishes.

So everyone’s happy inside the charmed circle, but what about us as Raptors fans?

Kyle’s doppelganger

Fred has been fortunate to be able to watch Kyle Lowry every day. Our starting point guard is a model for what Fred is becoming. Both men are short, thick-bodied tough guys who have carved out careers from grit and smarts.

Neither was particularly well thought of as draft candidates. Kyle fell to the #24 spot, and Fred wasn’t selected at all.

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The yin to the Lowry/VanVleet yang is Delon Wright, a longer than usual point guard. I like contrast in a depth chart, so I’m glad Wright is around to provide balance.

I also like players who improve, and that’s certainly been the case with Fred. The improvement in his numbers from 2016-17 to last season is striking. In those stats which particularly matter to point guards, he’s spiked: assist to turnover ratio, shooting from beyond the arc, steals, effective field goal percentage – all up dramatically.

Is there shiny hardware in Fred’s future?

VanVleet finished third in voting for the NBA Sixth Man of the Year. Yes, he and everyone else was put in the shade following another phenomenal season by Sweet Lou Williams. Regardless, Fred is on the radar now. Lou can’t keep doing his magic forever – can he? (He’s another small man, a high-schooler not given much love in the 2005 draft as the #45 pick. No one takes him lightly anymore.)

We’re happy Fred’s back. Years ago, in the miserable depths of the post-Bosh era, I wrote that I hoped someday the Raptors would be a difficult team for anyone to crack the lineup of. That day has arrived. The chances of a rookie crashing this veteran roster approach zero.

Now we just have to win some playoff series.

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