Houston has reportedly become one of the big spenders of the 2023 offseason by reaching a deal with 1-time All-Star Fred VanVleet.
Veteran point guard Fred VanVleet is leaving the Raptors, having attracted a massive three-year, $130 million deal from the Rockets.
Free agent G Fred VanVleet has agreed to a three-year, $130 million contract with the Houston Rockets. @clutchsports CEO Rich Paul and agent Erika Ruiz told ESPN. The Rockets signed the former Raptors All-Star at the age of 29. pic.twitter.com/B6WwPmLYq1
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) 1 July 2023
The Rockets Get Fred VanVleet, Their Top Target In Free Agency https://t.co/usP4gQSXA5 Via @houstoncron
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) 1 July 2023
An undrafted player who was signed by the Raptors in 2016, VanVleet has become a steady scorer and playmaker in his seven NBA seasons.
VanVleet — who famously used the phrase “bet on yourself” to describe his career path from undrafted player to NBA champion with the Toronto Raptors — will earn approximately $525,000 per game over the next three seasons.
This roughly matches what he earned as a rookie in Toronto, totaling around $550,000.
He was last a free agent in the 2020 offseason and signed a four-year, $85 million deal as Toronto looked to build around him, including rising forward Pascal Siakam and defensive-minded swingman Ozzie Anunobi. That was when veteran guard Kyle Lowry left the team via free agency. to miami.
VanVleet hasn’t disappointed since then, averaging 19.8 points, 4.2 assists and 6.8 rebounds over the past three seasons. He was an All-Star in 2021–22 and one of 11 guards to average at least 19 ppg and 7.0 apg in 2022–23.
He was a key part of the Raptors’ 2019 championship team, putting in several key performances leading up to the NBA title. In the Eastern Conference Finals, he scored 21 points on 7-for-13 shooting in a Game 5 victory against the Milwaukee Bucks. In the NBA Finals game 6 clincher on the road versus Golden State, he had 22 points as he, Siakam and Kawhi Leonard led Toronto to victory.
VanVleet is one of the Raptors’ all-time leaders in points (eighth), assists (third), steals (fourth) and 3-pointers made and attempted (second in both categories).
This report used information from The Associated Press.