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Toronto Raptors: What are the chances Fred VanVleet leaves this summer?

By Mark Birdsell

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 12: Fred VanVleet #23 of the Toronto Raptors in action against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on February 12, 2020 in New York City.Brooklyn Nets defeated the Toronto Raptors 101-91. 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. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 12: Fred VanVleet #23 of the Toronto Raptors in action against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on February 12, 2020 in New York City.Brooklyn Nets defeated the Toronto Raptors 101-91. 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. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /
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Phoenix Suns (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Phoenix Suns

The Phoenix Suns are an intriguing option. Much like the Knicks, the Suns have been dysfunctional for several years. The team has been through five head coaches since 2013. The Suns haven’t made the playoffs since the 2009-10 season. Kevin Arnovitz of ESPN did a deep dive into the Robert Sarver era, including a very strange incident with a goat.

The Suns started the small ball revolution with Steve Nash, Amar’e Stoudemire, and Shawn Marion. The “Seven Seconds or Less” Suns was right up there with the Showtime Lakers in terms of entertainment value. But Nash has been gone for almost a decade and there hasn’t been much to celebrate since.

Now after years of collecting lottery picks, the Suns have one of the better young cores in the entire NBA.

Devin Booker is an absolute stud. This season, Booker has averaged 26.1 points, 4.2 rebounds and 6.6 assists per game. Booker was named to the All-Star team for the first time. At just 23 years of age, Booker should have many more All-Star appearances in his future.

In addition to Booker, the Suns have Deandre Ayton, the 2018 no. 1 overall pick. The team features an interesting collection of wing players in Kelly Oubre Jr., Mikal Bridges, and Cameron Johnson. Plus the Suns should add another high lottery pick in this year’s draft. The one thing Phoenix is missing is the long-term answer at point guard.

This past summer, the Suns signed Ricky Rubio to a three-year, $51 million contract. Rubio has been solid this season. He averaged 13.1 points, 8.9 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game. Shockingly, Rubio is also hitting 35 percent of his attempts from long distance. But Rubio will be 30 at the start of next season. He doesn’t quite fit the same timeline as the rest of the Suns’ players.

Before COVID-19, the salary cap was projected to increase to $115 million next season. The NBA will lose hundreds of millions of dollars if the rest of the season is canceled. It remains to be seen how much of an impact that will have on next year’s salary cap.

Assuming the figure doesn’t drop too much, the Suns will have $20 million-plus in cap space. That might not be enough to steal VanVleet away from the Raptors. But it should be enough to at least get a meeting.

The Suns tried to put the ball in Booker’s hands and turn him into James Harden. Booker has taken great strides as a ball-handler and facilitator. However, the offense has been much smoother this season with Booker taking a step back and allowing Rubio to initiate the offense.

VanVleet is not as flashy as Rubio. But he is a better shooter. Despite being smaller, VanVleet is just as good as Rubio on the defensive end. He is also four years younger and a much better fit long-term.