By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
Get our mobile app
ROCKFORD — Fred VanVleet is making another bet on himself.
The Rockford native and NBA All-Star has declined his $22.8 million player option and will enter free agency in July, according to NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
The 29-year-old Auburn High School graduate has played all seven seasons with the Toronto Raptors, averaging nearly 15 points and five assists per game over his career. He averaged 19.3 points and a career-best 7.2 assists last season, and he had one of the best assist-to-turnover ratios in the NBA.
Local sports icons: Rockford’s Janet Lynn still smiling more than 50 years after the Sapporo Olympics
He has averaged roughly 20 points and nearly seven assists per game over the past three seasons as he has emerged as a leader on the team. VanVleet also played a key role off the bench in the Raptors 2019 NBA Championship over the Golden State Warriors.
advertisement
ESPN reports that VanVleet has not ruled out returning to the Raptors.
VanVleet’s decision is considered one of the first major moves in free agency this summer. Some of the potential landing spots being discussed by NBA analysts include the Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia 76ers, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns and Houston Rockets.
ESPN Sources: In the first major domino of free agency, Toronto Raptors All-Star guard Fred VanVleet has declined his $22.8 million player option and will become an unrestricted free agent in July. pic.twitter.com/bVrve81XgZ
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 12, 2023