Potential Suns Target Emerges as Fred VanVleet Declines Player Option With Raptors
The Phoenix Suns are set to undergo some major changes this offseason - some of which have already taken place on the coaching staff after Monty Williams was fired before Frank Vogel took his seat.
Another interesting summer looks to unfold for a roster that basically sees everybody but Kevin Durant and Devin Booker expendable. That includes Deandre Ayton and Chris Paul, both of whom haven't exactly lived up to their price tags on a Suns team that is very much open to business on both.
A potential target for the Suns - in the event cap space does become available - are the talents of Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet. Phoenix has been somewhat connected to the 29-year-old for a few months now after it was revealed the Suns were looking for options to replace Paul (who has a June 28 deadline to see all $30.8 million of his salary guaranteed).
That possibly only grew in strength after VanVleet declined his $22.8 million player option with Toronto, effectively making him a free agent this summer free to sign with any team of his choosing.
ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski says there will be plenty of teams interested.
"There are teams with and without salary cap space who'll have the mechanisms to pursue VanVleet, who has consistently shown himself to be a lead guard with the capacity to impact winning for the Raptors," said Woj.
"There were several contending teams who discussed VanVleet trade deadline deals with the Raptors. Those conversations could be revisited in free agency."
Our own Kevin Hicks included VanVleet in a top five list of potential replacements for Paul:
"VanVleet is a sneakily interesting name this summer. The Suns have had at least some degree of interest in acquiring him going back as far as the 2020 offseason. Fred fits Vogel's system in terms of being a fearless and hard-nosed defender despite being undersized," said Hicks.
"He's also a good shooter, underrated playmaker, and gives consistent effort on both ends. The main drawbacks are certainly the contract he will likely be seeking and the known efficiency struggles as a scorer."
VanVleet will certainly be a name to monitor as the summer grows.
