Rockets Eye Raptors' Fred VanVleet as Potential Free Agent Target, per Report

The Houston Rockets reportedly view Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet as a potential target in free agency this summer

All Raptors Staff | Jun 6, 2023

Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

In this story:

The return of Fred VanVleet suddenly doesn’t feel so inevitable for the Toronto Raptors.

The 29-year-old point guard is reportedly drawing interest from the Houston Rockets as a potential free agent signing should James Harden return to Philadelphia, per Yahoo’s Jake Fischer. While Harden does remain Houston’s primary target, VanVleet has been mentioned as a “secondary option” for the Rockets who have over $60 million in cap space this summer.

A Rockets pursuit of VanVleet should be concerning for Toronto as the Raptors could lose the former All-Star to Houston for nothing in return. The Rockets’ cap space would allow the organization to sign VanVleet without the need for a sign-and-trade, leaving the Raptors with a gaping hole in their backcourt.

VanVleet does have a player option worth $22.8 million for next season, though he’s widely expected to opt out of that deal. He is believed to have multiple suitors this summer including the Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, and Los Angeles Lakers who have both been rumored to be potential landing spots.

Toronto and VanVleet could have signed a four-year, $114 million extension during this past season, but VanVleet said he and the organization mutually agreed not to ink the extension. He will likely end up earning something around that $28.5 million per season he was eligible to sign for.

Further Reading