1. Fred VanVleet
The Raptors will likely try everything in their power to keep VanVleet, much to the chagrin of a very vocal part of the fanbase. However, considering how VanVleet has underwhelmed for large chunks of the season, some poor play down the stretch could change hearts and minds in the front office.
VanVleet is still a very inconsistent scorer and shooter, and the Raptors may have some hesitation about paying a 6-0 point guard more than $30 million per season on a deal that will take him into his 30s. With Scottie Barnes potentially ready to handle ball-handling duties if he evolves like Toronto believes he will, is VanVleet going to be redundant?
Are the Toronto Raptors committed to Fred VanVleet?
VanVleet can be an offensive leader that no one can slow down at his best, but his bad games have been too frequent for Toronto to consider a nine-figure contract a formality. Stinking down the stretch might end up changing the calculus just a bit.
Expect VanVleet to be wearing Raptors colors. However, we’ve seen much nuttier and unusual things happen around this team. If they get outbid or turned off by another cold streak, he might just end up elsewhere.