Lakers News: All-Star Los Angeles Free Agent Prospect Inks Max Deal With Rockets
The Los Angeles Lakers were looking heavily at the different realities in which they could land All-Star guard Fred Vanvleet in 2023 free agency. He remains one of the best and most underrated players at his position across the league and with the Toronto Raptors reportedly wanting to make several big roster changes, FVV was likely always planning to leave.
However, the Houston Rockets entered this offseason with a ton of cap space to play around with. Their roster is chock-full of young talent in which they haven't had to extend just yet and James Harden and Eric Gordon are both officially off of their payrolls. A Harden reunion was in the works for a while there too but now teams like the Los Angeles Clippers and Phoenix Suns are in the mix.
Therefore, the Lakers went in a different direction and targeted Gabe Vincent at their guard position in free agency who just broke out last season instead. Vanvleet, on the other hand, signed a massive deal with the Rockets and they now have a champion leader on their side.
"Free agent G Fred VanVleet has agreed on a three-year, $130 million contract with the Houston Rockets, @KlutchSports CEO Rich Paul and agent Erika Ruiz tell ESPN. Rockets land ex-Raptors All-Star in his prime at 29 years old."
It would've been amazing to have Vanvleet as our point guard of the future but for that price, it would not have been very possible. He has an incredible story to stardom in the NBA and if a different team offered him such a deal, it would not have been smart from a financial standpoint to turn it down.
We are happy to see guys continue to get nice paydays early into the offseason and cannot wait to see who else the Lakers bring in... Jaxson Hayes was their most recent move.
