Fred VanVleet rejected a four-year, $114 million extension supply from the Toronto Raptors prior this 2022-2023 season, TSN’s Josh Lewenberg reported this Saturday.
Per Lewenberg, VanVleet, turning down the deal, got here in with no such shock given his ‘Bet on Yourself’ mantra that he’s been residing up as an undrafted cager.
“Prior to the start of the season, VanVleet turned down a contract extension valued at roughly $114 million, the maximum Toronto could offer at the time, according to a source. He’s eligible to sign an extension up to that value until the end of the campaign, but considering he can make more in free agency and he literally wears the mantra ‘Bet on Yourself’ across his chest, it’s not a surprise that he would prefer to let his current deal expire before negotiating a new one.”
For an added context, Michael Grange of Sportsnet relayed that each side have mutually agreed not to reach for an settlement, with “no deadline discussed.”
VanVleet had a humbling, Cinderella story for the Raptors. Upon coming into the league as an undrafted prospect in 2015, he then went on to carve his approach up to the highest and have become the workforce’s coveted core basis alongside Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby.
Turning into a major contributor for the workforce’s title exploits in 2019 whereas having fun with enhancements all through the years, VanVleet earned his bag and inked a 4 12 months, $85-million contract with Toronto within the 2020 offseason. He then went on to develop into an All-Star guard final season – changing into the primary undrafted participant since Ben Wallace to accomplish that.
While he had great years of his personal, this 12 months has been troubling in his bid to settle for a a lot greater payday. He is simply averaging 18.8 factors on a lopsided 37.7% taking pictures, whereas tallying a profession worst 32.5 p.c from the three-point territory.
VanVleet nonetheless owns a participant choice for subsequent season price $22.8 million, however all indicators are pointing to the likelihood that he’ll choose out in hopes to acquire an elevated and far more profitable contract.
As such, his present zigzag play seems not dependable to elevate his worth, because the Raptors are presently 16-23 in Conference standings whereas going through questions if they are going to proceed the climb or head in direction of rebuilding.
In the tip, VanVleet can solely hope that he’ll have the option to break his particular person droop and help the Raptors again to competition – issues that may actually elevate his need to money out in an enormous time quantity.
