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Toronto Raptors: Should the Raptors keep Fred VanVleet or Serge Ibaka?

By Joseph Zita

TORONTO, ON - JANUARY 12: Serge Ibaka #9 of the Toronto Raptors reacts after sinking a three pointer during the second half of an NBA game against the San Antonio Spurs at Scotiabank Arena on January 12, 2020 in Toronto, 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. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - JANUARY 12: Serge Ibaka #9 of the Toronto Raptors reacts after sinking a three pointer during the second half of an NBA game against the San Antonio Spurs at Scotiabank Arena on January 12, 2020 in Toronto, 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. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /
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The Toronto Raptors have their own big free agents that will be getting a ton of interest from other teams around the league and it’s a bit concerning.

The Toronto Raptors have two big free agents in Fred VanVleet and Serge Ibaka that have been getting a ton of interest from other teams around the league and it is somewhat concerning if you’re a Raptors fan.

This off-season is going to be a wild one and the Toronto Raptors may only have a chance to keep one of Fred VanVleet or Serge Ibaka depending on what other teams are planning and how much money both Raptors players are commanding this off-season.

If the Toronto Raptors are faced with the decision to only picking one of VanVleet or Ibaka to keep and remain on the Raptors, who should they decide to pick?

The Case for Keeping VanVleet

2019-20 stats – 54 GP – 17.6 PPG – 3.8 RPG – 6.6 APG – .413 FG% – .390 3P% – .848 FT%

Career stats – 231 GP – 10.5 PPG – 2.6 RPG – 4.1 APG – .412 FG% – .393 3P% – .842 FT%

Fred VanVleet has emerged himself into one of the better point guards in the entire league and it shouldn’t be a surprise by now because I have mentioned it in almost every article I’ve written that VanVleet is a part of. The way he has grown as a complete player on the offensive side as well as the defensive side of the ball in just four seasons in the NBA is beyond impressive and he is certainly making a case to getting paid a lot this off-season.

He was a very important piece to the Raptors 905 2017 championship run and in recent memories, he was also a very important piece to the Toronto Raptors 2019 championship run against the Golden State Warriors.

Despite VanVleet only being in the league for four years and being 26 years old, he has shown he can compete at the highest level and take on big responsibilities while he’s at it, which makes a better case for him to get paid this off-season.

If the Toronto Raptors get the chance to re-sign him it’ll benefit both the team and the player for multiple reasons. The first reason is that the Raptors re-sign a very good player in VanVleet who is going to be entering his prime very soon and he just keeps getting better and better every season.

It also benefits the player mainly because he gets to continue to play for the franchise that gave him a chance after he went undrafted and signed him to a contract, oh and he also won a championship with them too so why not stay and try to win another one with a great group of players and coaching staff.

I can see VanVleet being among the best point guards in the league in no time, he may not be a top-five point guard in the next couple of years but he’ll definitely have a case to become a top ten one that’s for sure. Although it all depends on how much money he truly wants in free agency and how much money the Toronto Raptors value him at. In a recent podcast, VanVleet stated he is trying to get paid this off-season and that he believes he is on the verge of blossoming even more.

The Raptors have a lot of decisions to make in the next year, from VanVleet and Ibaka now to trying to come to an agreement with Masai Ujiri and Bobby Webster for new contracts in the 2021 off-season and if they are serious about it, trying to pursue Giannis Antetokounmpo in the same off-season. (Stats from Basketball-Reference.com)

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