Toronto Raptors: How good can Fred VanVleet be next season?

Expectations for VanVleet this season

VanVleet enters this season as one of the top-five bench players in the NBA. As previously mentioned, he finished last season third in Sixth Man of the Year voting and is entering his age 24 season.

After shooting greater than 41-percent from three last season, FVV is a candidate for a three-point regression this season. He has been a good-to-great shooter during both his college and pro career, but only elite NBA marksman can consistently maintain a percentage that high. Factor in how many of FVV’s shots come off the bounce and a percentage closer to 38-39 percent seems likely.

That’s more than fine. Toronto will hope he makes up the difference with improved efficiency inside the arc. If VanVleet can improve to near 50-percent inside the line, it would help the diversity of his scoring immensely.

From a playmaking perspective, FVV will take on a more substantial responsibility with DeMar DeRozan now in San Antonio. DeRozan ranked second in assists last season, and while Kawhi has many talents, he has never excelled at creating for others.

Overall, reasonable expectations for Fred this season should be similar numbers to last year, while perhaps slightly more efficient.

If he can average in the ballpark of 9.5 points, 4.5 assists, and an effective field goal percentage of around 55-percent, it should be more than enough to keep him among the top bench players in the NBA.