Raptors news: Fred VanVleet denies contract report, Pascal Siakam hazes rookie

The Toronto Raptors are going to be one of the most important players in the trade market during the next few weeks, with star point guard Fred VanVleet at the center of many of the talks. A trade might be in the works, even after such a long tenure north of the border.

Not only has VanVleet underperformed this season due to some very bad efficiency and bad shot selection, but the fact that he will likely opt out of the final year of his contract and become a free agent will make him potential trade bait as the Raptors try to recoup long-term assets.

TSN’s Josh Lewenberg reported that a four-year, $114 million contract offered to VanVleet was declined, implying that he is seeking a deal that is even more expensive than that. VanVleet proceeded to deny that report in a fairly emphatic fashion.

“I was never made a formal offer,” VanVleet said. “There was never a formal offer made. It was a mutual decision made by both sides that the smart thing to do would be to wait it out.” It looks like we have a good, old-fashioned showdown between VanVleet and Lewenberg’s source.

If TSN was right, VanVleet might price himself out of a Raptors return.

More Raptors news

• Pascal Siakam made Christian Koloko do all of his rookie hazing duties, including getting beaten in FIFA. Siakam’s Real Madrid seemed too tough for Koloko, who kept shouting that the game was too unrealistic, to overcome. It’s nice to see the veterans accept Koloko as one of their own so quickly.
• GM Bobby Webster commented on free agent signing Otto Porter Jr’s season-ending injury. “This was a tough decision for Otto, he had hoped to avoid surgery, but ultimately a decision had to be made to ensure his long-term health,” Webster said. “We look forward to his healthy recovery.”

NBA news

• The San Antonio Spurs could host as many as 68,000 people at the Alamodome on Friday night against the Golden State Warriors, which would set a new record for attendance at a regular season basketball game. The previous record was just over 62,000, which came during a Bulls-Hawks game at the old Georgia Dome.
• Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton, who appears to be a lock for the All-Star team, left Madison Square Garden on crutches after suffering knee and elbow injuries. Rick Carlisle needs to hope that this isn’t a long-term injury, or playoff contenders like the Raptors could pass Indiana in the standings.