Report: Fred VanVleet, Gary Trent Jr. 'More Likely Than Not to Relocate' in Free Agency

Fred VanVleet and Gary Trent Jr. are both expected to leave the Toronto Raptors when free agency begins later this month

All Raptors Staff | Jun 12, 2023

Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

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Toronto Raptors

Gary Trent Jr. and Fred VanVleet appear poised to be heading elsewhere when free agency kicks off later this month.

Both the Toronto Raptors guards are expected to find new teams in free agency, according to Substack’s Marc Stein. Toronto, however, is not interested in a “total rebuild” but merely a retooling this summer, Stein adds.

VanVleet is expected to draw interest from the Houston Rockets, Orlando Magic, and Phoenix Suns, among others this summer. He has until June 15 to opt out of his $22.8 million player option for next season. He’ll likely draw somewhere between $25 to $30 million per season over three or four years in his next contract.

Trent, meanwhile, has a player option for $18.6 million that he’ll have until June 20th to decline. He is expected to head into unrestricted free agency this summer as well. He will reportedly draw interest from the Magic as well as other teams.

Even if both players sign elsewhere this summer, Toronto would still remain without any significant cap space and no way to replace either player with equal talent. The Raptors could try to arrange a sign-and-trade with a team interested in signing one of the two players that don’t have cap space to ink a deal without Toronto’s help. Some of the teams reportedly interested, though, wouldn’t need help from the Raptors to make a deal.

Free agency is set to begin on June 30.

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