Toronto Raptors: Top five bellwethers for the Raptors this season
By Jason Mills
Salary Redistribution
When this season began, head coach Nick Nurse decided Fred Vanvleet is a starter. In 2018 Vanvleet signed a two year 18 million dollar contract that expires this summer. The Raptors have made it clear that Vanvleet is a starting guard in the NBA.
The Toronto Raptors, who have overseen the development of the undrafted guard, have to be concerned the summer of 2020 could see several teams force them into a bidding war for the return of Vanvleet’s services.
One way to ensure that the Raptors can compete financially to retain their guy is to address the salary overkill at the point guard and center positions. As it stands now, the Raptors pay a combined 42 million dollars to Lowry and Vanvleet who are both point guards. The Raptors pay nearly $50 million to both Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka to play center.
Both Gasol and Ibaka would be off the books this coming summer but Raptors’ management would likely try to bring back Ibaka. Therefore, if VanVleet is the team’s present and future at the point guard position, Kyle Lowry may have to be traded by the trade deadline, at the 2020 NBA Draft or in the off-season.