Phoenix Suns sign-and-trade option for Fred VanVleet
In typical fashion, the Phoenix Suns will have to overpay if they want to get better free agents, but this year is different in that they have the pieces to trade. They will need to entice a team to help recruit one of their player(s) to accept a trade to the Suns. One team that fits this goal, the Toronto Raptors.
Going forward, the Raptors have a problem as three of their starters are free agents after the bubble: Marc Gasol, Serge Ibaka, and Fred VanVleet are going to look for bigger paydays this off-season than the Raptors can afford.
The Raptors are paying $30.5M next season for Kyle Lowry and $28.75M to Pascal Siakam. Logically, that allows them to sign one, maybe two of those three players, and still be able to fill out the rest of their roster.
The Phoenix Suns could trade Kelly Oubre and Elie Okobo to the Toronto Raptors for a sign and trade deal for combo-guard, Fred VanVleet. For the regular-season, VanVleet averaged 17.6 pts and 6.6 assists per game and 39 percent from 3-point range.
In addition, VanVleet was third in the league in steals and 30 more steals than Kelly Oubre. VanVleet’s free-agent contract will be in the same range as Malcolm Brogdan who signed with the Pacers last summer for 4 years, $21.25 million.
A rotation of Devin Booker, Fred VanVleet, and Ricky Rubio would be an elite backcourt and would allow the Suns to trade Rubio next offseason or just cover them if/when Book or Rubio get hurt at any time.