Rockets Will be 'Strong Contenders' to Sign Raptors' Fred VanVleet, per Report

The Houston Rockets aren’t going to make it easy for the Toronto Raptors to keep Fred VanVleet.

With NBA free agency now just days away, all indications are the Rockets have their eyes set on VanVleet, especially if James Harden does not return to Houston, per Marc Stein. The Rockets will enter free agency with more cap space than anyone else and can make it very difficult for Toronto to bring back its lead guard.

VanVleet is said to be looking for a contract with an annual average salary of around $30 million. Toronto can likely manage to make that number while staying under the luxury tax by maxing out the annual increases.

For example, the Raptors could sign VanVleet to a contract with a first-year value of around $28 million and 8% raises in each successive season over three or four years that would allow him to hit the $30 million annual figure.

Houston, however, could offer VanVleet anything up to a max contract that would exceed the $30 million figure in Year 1. The 29-year-old could, for example, sign a shorter-term deal with a higher annual value and then try to test the free agent market again in two years.

Toronto could make a cost-saving trade by moving Gary Trent Jr., Chris Boucher, Otto Porter Jr., or Malachi Flynn in order to create more flexibility under the $165 million luxury tax threshold the Raptors are unlikely to cross.

Further Reading

Gradey Dick Talks Shot Form, NBA Role Models, Darko Rajaković, & More in Raptors Presser

Kansas Coach Bill Self Shares His Thoughts on Gradey Dick's Fit with the Raptors

Raptors Announce Summer League Schedule Starting July 7