Raptors: 3 reasons Fred VanVleet should be an All-Star
By Mike Luciano
1. The Toronto Raptors would fall off of a cliff without him
Fred VanVleet is saving the Raptors from complete ruin
If you had told Raptors fans that two years after Kawhi Leonard helped them win the franchise’s first championship, the team would start to fray at the seams and an undersized combo guard from Wichita State would’ve been what keeps this team together, you would’ve been laughed out of the room. Unfortunately, that’s the situation Toronto finds themselves in, as their failures on the free-agent market and inability to replace their dynamic duo of Serge Ibaka and Marc Gasol inside have done a number on Toronto’s production.
VanVleet, some nights by himself or with the help of Lowry and OG Anunoby, often takes on the role of primary creator on offense, all the while starting to improve his effort and skill on defense.
While value isn’t considered nearly as often as it should be in the All-Star process, the fact that VanVleet is producing like he is with a lack of talent around him to take defensive attention off of him should bump him over a few other East guards with similar stats in the hypothetical power rankings. VanVleet still has plenty of time to make up ground in the All-Star race. If he keeps playing like he has been, and the Raptors start making up some ground in the standings, there should be no doubt that VanVleet will end up as an All-Star for the first time in his career.
