Toronto Raptors: Five moves the Raptors should make this off-season
By Jason Mills
Do not sign Fred Vanvleet
The most challenging decision the Toronto Raptors will have to make this off-season should be not to offer a contract to Fred Vanvleet. He did average 17.6 points per game, 6.6 assists per game, and shot the three-pointer at 39%.
Its other qualities that make Fred VanVleet a bad signing for the Toronto Raptors. The Raptors get to free up nearly 50 million invested in the center position on the roster. While it would be prudent to bring back Serge Ibaka, paying almost 50 million to two short point-guards would be just as crippling as the salaries paid to the unproductive Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka at center this season.
It is absolute a bidding war will start for Fred VanVleet’s impressive skill set, taking his salary from nine million this season to a range between 20-25 million a year. Kyle Lowry has an extension for one more season at 30 million for next season.
In the recently completed series against the Boston Celtics, the Raptors’ lack of size on perimeter defense was a detriment as Marcus Smart, Kemba Walker, and even Jaylen Brown was able to shoot over the top of the Raptors’ guard tandem. It also wasn’t difficult to pass around either Kyle Lowry or VanVleet, either.
There is also the issue that Norman Powell averaged 16 points per game and shot 39.9% from the three-point arc. Powell also is under contract for one more year at a manageable10 million. At six-foot, four-inches, Powell has more size than VanVleet and is just as good.
Norman Powell ended the season with a +9 difference between offensive and defensive rating per 100 possessions, whereas VanVleet was +7.
The only difference between Norman Powell and Fred VanVleet is Norman Powell has one more season of experience, four inches in height advantage, a guaranteed contract, and Norman Powell was drafted in the second round while VanVleet was undrafted.
While Norman Powell is ready to take over at the shooting guard, Terence Davis had a strong rookie season on a winning team. He is sure to take another positive step in his development as a sophomore. Fred VanVleet is just too expensive in the grand scheme of things for the Toronto Raptors.