Fred VanVleet leaves Toronto Raptors, reports say
According to multiple reports, Fred VanVleet is leaving the Toronto Raptors and signing a three-year, $130 million contract with the Houston Rockets.
VanVleet has spent his entire seven-year career with the Raptors after being called up in 2016.
It is the largest contract for an undrafted player in NBA history.
VanVleet was part of the Raptors team that won a championship in 2019 and was named an all-star in 2022.
The 29-year-old point guard pulled out of his $22.8 million player option two weeks ago. The option year would be the last of a four-year, $85 million contract he signed in 2020.
Last season, VanVleet averaged 19.3 points and a career best 7.2 assists in 69 regular season games. Toronto finished with a 41–41 record, missing the postseason after a play-in loss to the Chicago Bulls.
The Raptors moved quickly to replace VanVleet, reportedly signing 29-year-old point guard Dennis Schroder to a two-year, $26 million contract.
This report from The Canadian Press was first published on June 30, 2023.
